Case against establishing quarantine centre in private property

By Ranjith Rajapaksha - Hatton

Two Army Colonels and Maj. Gen. Priyankara Perera and the UDA have been summoned to appear in Hatton Magistrate’s Court on September 15 on charges of forcibly establishing a quarantine centre at a private land.   

President’s Counsel Maithree Gunaratne said the order was issued by Hatton District Magistrate J. Trotsky yesterday.  

President’s Counsel Gunaratna said several buildings in a sizeable land belonging to his client, situated along the Hatton-Nuwara Eliya main road in the Kotagala commercial town, have been forcibly occupied by the Army.   

He said a quarantine facility has been established by the Army without obtaining permission from the owner, adding that soldiers are now occupying the premises effectively making it an army camp.  

Gunaratna PC said his client is entitled to the ownership of the property up to a tenure of 50 years through an order issued by the Commercial High Court.   

His client has filed a petition with the Hatton Magistrate’s Court asserting his ownership over the property, over which the Hatton District Magistrate has summoned Maj. Gen. Priyankara Perera and other officials.  

• Quarantine facility has been established by the Army without obtaining permission from the owner