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Chandrika to return plot

V.S. Sambandan

Chandrika Kumaratunga

COLOMBO: The former Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has decided to return a plot granted to her by the previous Government.

The land was granted as Ms. Kumaratunga decided to "forego several facilities she was entitled to under the Presidential Entitlement Act." These included a monthly pension, official residence, allowances for maintaining a bungalow and allowance for payment of electricity and water bills.

Ms. Kumaratunga agreed to accept only "the entitlements of security, office staff and the relevant number of vehicles," a statement by her secretary P. Dissanayake said.

No reasons were given for Ms. Kumaratunga's decision to return the one-and-a-half acre plot. However, the decision comes against the backdrop of a recent court case filed by a newspaper editor, challenging the grant of land located near Parliament.

In her letter to Urban Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene on February 7, Ms. Kumaratunga said she had not obtained any compensation for which she was entitled to on several occasions. These included the political assassination of her husband, Vijaya Kumaratunga, serious injuries sustained by her and the permanent loss of sight in one eye she suffered during an assassination attempt.

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