Illegal occupation of land in Modara exposed at COPA

It was recently revealed before the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) that 100 perches of the high commercial value Modara Elie House land have been illegally used by an external party without a valid agreement.

This disclosure was made during a COPA committee meeting chaired by Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, where the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was summoned.

The land belongs to the Colombo Municipal Council, COPA discussed at length the progress of implementing previous recommendations regarding the unauthorized occupation of the Elie House land in Modara. CMC officials informed the committee that while the total area of the land is 140 perches, only 40 perches have been under contract since 1992.

Officials from the National Audit Office informed the committee that even that contract had expired in 2022. This means that 100 perches of the land have been occupied and used without any contractual agreement.

National Audit Office officials had previously informed COPA that after discussions with the Western Province Governor, the unauthorized occupants had agreed to pay the outstanding rent and penalties, but had failed to take further action.

CMC officials stated their current position is to work with the occupants to obtain the outstanding rent and penalties through a mutual agreement, noting that a charitable organization is operating on the land.

They also assured the committee that steps would be taken to repossess the remaining one hundred perches being used without a contract.

The COPA Chairman warned that this method of operation creates numerous problems, emphasizing the critical importance of acting strictly according to financial and public administration laws and regulations.

Consequently, COPA directed the CMC to submit a detailed report on the amount of outstanding penalties being charged for the illegally used portion of the land. CMC officials indicated that this report could be submitted by the end of December.