She was given the land in question to relocate the preschool she had been running at another location in the area previously, Ravaya reports.

As per procedures in giving a state land to a person on lease, a gazette notification calls for any objections within a three week period, but nothing of that sort had happened in this instance.

Originally, the land had been allocated for the construction of an arts centre for the residents of Kalapuraya.

When Kalapuraya functioned under the Tower Hall Foundation, that land was given to Ven. Bandagiriye Somawansa Thera on behalf of the National Children’s Education Foundation, and he had constructed a building there, which is partly-built.

Residents had come to know that Shiranthi had been given the land only after the change in government, as a certain group had come there to clean up the building there. When questioned, they had said they were there on the orders of Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

When the police came after being notified, one in the group had given a mobile phone to a policeman, saying ‘the madam is on line’, and the policeman was told by the caller to leave, adding that police cannot do anything in the matter.

Now, the Kalapura residents foundation has asked the new lands minister that the land be given to them for their arts activities. Also, they have staged a protest.