The government is to take back the land if proven that the Foundation had violated the condition that the land in question should not be used for any purpose other than the intended purpose.
The FCID has uncovered the alleged violation during an investigation and also questioned former speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in that regard.
Chamal has said that he knew nothing of the matter and that everything was done by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his sons, and has agreed to become a state witness with regard to the matter.
A 29-perch land at Battaramulla owned by the UDA was given in 2003 to the D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation on a 30-year lease for an annual rent of Rs. 163,125.
The request to provide the land was made from the then minister of western region development M. H. Mohammad by Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the opposition leader at the time.
Later the land was transferred following approval of a cabinet paper.
A condition was imposed that the land should not be used for any purpose other than for activities of the D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation.
However, no activity of the Foundation was carried out in the premises.
Instead, the main office building of the CSN network was built on the land.
Investigations carried out so far have revealed that a colossal Rs. 300 million has been spent on the CSN project.
The indenture of lease was hastily signed between the CSN and the Rajapaksa Foundation on Jan. 14, just a few days after the change of government.
Related articles: