• Alleges encroachment on over 200 acres of State land and Rs. 200 Mn tax revenue loss, MP to be charged under Offences against Public Property Act 

Puttalam District Coordination Committee Chairman and Parliamentarian Chinthaka Amal Mayadunna has directed the relevant officials to initiate legal proceedings against MP Ali Sabri Raheem, who has allegedly encroached on more than 200 acres of State land in Puttalam, under the Offences Against Public Property Act, No. 12 of 1982.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Mayadunna said that Raheem had been using 214 acres of State land for more than 15 years. “He has been using State land for more than 15 years without going through any prescribed procedure. The relevant Divisional Secretary had asked him to lease the land, but, he has not done it either. By now, he has been sent an eviction notice, but, he is still occupying land and earning millions.”

He said that the Government had incurred a loss of around Rs. 200 million due to Raheem’s illegal occupation of land and tax revenue. “Anyone can obtain land on lease. There is no issue in doing so, but, what Raheem has been doing is occupying this land for free. He is manufacturing salt and selling them at high prices. The Government gets nothing in the end. Despite eviction notices having been sent, he is still occupying land.”

When queried as to whether he would seek any action against Raheem with regard to the matter, Mayadunna said that the District Coordination Committee is attended by all relevant officials such as District and Divisional Secretaries and Police officials so they would initiate necessary action. “This is a misuse of State property. As the Committee Chairman, I have instructed the relevant officials to initiate legal action against Raheem under the Offences Against Public Property Act.”

Raheem was not available for comment.

Earlier, Customs officials on duty at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake impounded a total of 3.5 kg of undeclared gold and several mobile phones from the possession of MP Raheem, who was returning to the island from overseas on 23 May 2023. He was arrested by Customs officials, imposed a fine, and later released.