Civilian lands in Trincomalee occupied by the Sri Lankan Port Authority for decades, should be returned immediately to its owners, an Eastern Provincial Council member has stressed.
The Minister for Ports and Shipping, Arjuna Ranatunga, had promised that lends held by the authority would be released quickly, the EPC representative for Trincomalee, Jegatheesan Jenarthanan highlighted during a public meeting at the District Secretariat.
“That promise is yet to be fulfilled,” Mr Jenarthanan said.
Around 5000 acres of coastal land in Trincomalee was seized by gazette by Lalith Athulathmudali, the assassinated UNP politician, during his stint as ports minister in the late eighties.
Mr Jenarthanan said that the return of the lands to owners, most of whom had the correct deeds, was being needlessly delayed.
Among the affected villages were Palaiyootru, Poompukar, Ilinganagar and Kappalthurai.