Former North Central Province Governor Mahipala Herath is facing allegations of misusing his authority to acquire a 40-perch plot of land in the Anuradhapura Tank Reserve under his wife’s name. The land, situated within the Peramiyankulam Tank Reserve in the Katukeliyawa No. 302 Grama Niladhari Division, falls under the Anuradhapura Central Nuwaragam Provincial Divisional Secretariat.
In addition to this, during his tenure as Governor, Mahipala Herath is said to have secured an 80-perch plot of land on a long-term lease from a tank reserve in the Galkadawala area, Mahila Mawatha, within the same Grama Niladhari Division in Anuradhapura, also in his wife’s name.
Commenting on these developments, Mr. P.B. Dissanayake, Director General of the North Central Provincial Chamber of Commerce, stated:
“The application for acquiring the land in the Peramiyankulam Tank Reserve was submitted to the Central Kandy Rural Divisional Secretariat by a 77-year-old woman, Ajantha Rapasari Herath, a resident of No. 76, Ratnagiri, Molamure Mawatha, Kegalle. Upon investigation, it was revealed that she is the wife of the former governor, Mahipala Herath.”
“She has requested the land for commercial purposes, but the application submitted was incomplete. It lacks critical information, such as the duration of her residence in the area.”
Mr. Dissanayake raised further concerns about the legitimacy of the land transaction, questioning the authority of the Divisional Secretary in granting land from the Perimiyankulam Tank Reserve. “If an ordinary citizen were to request land, there are numerous legal processes to follow. The question remains—what legal grounds did the Divisional Secretary have to allocate this land from such a sensitive area, especially near Anuradhapura’s Atamasthana?”
He also highlighted that the same individual has fenced off another 80-perch plot of land in the area, suggesting significant support from state officials in what he describes as a “corrupt and illegal land transaction.”
Mr. Dissanayake confirmed that he has filed a complaint with the President, the North Central Governor, and the Chief Government Agent of Anuradhapura, urging immediate action against the unlawful land allocation.
In a related statement, Mr. Ruwan Ekanayake, Acting Divisional Secretary of the Anuradhapura Central Nuwaragam Provincial Divisional Secretariat, confirmed that Ajantha Rapasari Herath has sought a lease deed for a 40-perch plot in the Peramiyankulam Tank Reserve. “We are in the process of reviewing this request,” Mr. Ekanayake said, adding that a lease deed has yet to be issued.
The situation has raised serious concerns about land management and the potential misuse of political influence in the allocation of valuable land in protected areas.
