UDA acquisition:

Clash over Fort land

by Jaliya Wijeyekoon

Another urban land issue arising from the questionable activities of the Urban Development Authority simmered in the heart of Colombo Fort yesterday morning when rival claimants clashed over a premium value property.

Police had to intervene last morning when a crew from Capital Maharaja Organisation attempted to fence in a 48-perch extent of bare land opposite the World Trade Centre in the heart of the Fort business district.

Owners of a commercial property neighbouring this land had attempted to block the fencing on the basis of their own claim that the land had been unused for a long period and was to be developed by the UDA.

A Capital Maharaja spokesman said, “This portion of land that we erected the fence around to prevent trespassing was owned by us since 1989. All relevant documents pertaining to the land are with us and with the UDA.”

Managing Director, Colombo City Hotels Company, Gamini Mathews, whose property adjoins the disputed block, argued that the property in question is ‘Crown land’ and should be developed by the UDA.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the UDA had lodged a complaint at the Fort police station against Capital Maharaja Organisation over the ownership of a land in front of World Trade Centre and police had instructed both parties to appear at the Fort police station tomorrow with the relevant documents.