Atleast 40 local investors have been directed by a court to make fresh claims for 105 plots of land or some 20 perches each at the disputed Water’s Edge site in Battaramulla.
In the same case, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga also had time till the end of this month (January 31) to pay the fine of Rs. 2 million imposed on her by the Supreme Court for her part in transferring state lands for setting up a private golf clb. There was no information as to whether she had paid or not, the fine by yesterday.
The investors in question bought the land from Asia Pacific Golf Course Ltd., a company wholly taken over by ACCESS Chairman Sumal Perera, paying more than Rs.12 million per lot.
Luxury holiday villas were to be constructed at Water’s Edge site under a 100-luxury holiday villas project launched by Asia Pacific Golf Course Ltd. These buyers will have to make fresh applications claiming their ownership, Chairman of the Water’s Edge Management Committee Dr P. Ramanujam told The Sunday Times FT. Several Sri Lankan former test cricketers and wealthy businessmen were among the investors of this project.
According to the Supreme Court judgment on the Water’s Edge deal, these investors lost all rights, title and entitlements to the land and other rights despite having fully paid and settled all the sums of money and consideration related to the transaction between them, Asia Pacific Golf Course Ltd and Urban Development Authority, lawyers for the investors said. Therefore they added that they will have to find a legal redress on the particular land transaction.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the UDA to take steps to provide alternate lands to owners of lands at the Water’s Edge site after considering a motion filed by the original owners of the land. The Court also ordered that all details of lands sold to investors should be submitted by tomorrow. The Asia Pacific company has to move out of the premises by February 8, according to the court decision.
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