Youth who opposed Dambulla land grab comes under attack

Wasantha Kumara Herath, the convener of Kumbukkandanwala Village Protection Front, receiving treatment in hospital after being attacked

• The youth who attempted to protect the village tank system from dangers of the tourism industry is subject to an attack 
• Since 2011, Wasantha Kumara has been leading a relentless campaign to stop illegal activities in the village
• In 2018, a hotel company used a mob to reclaim paddy lands near an ancient tank, blocking the mud sluice canal in the process
• On September 19, 2016, the hotel owner caused damage to this reserve area using a dozer

By Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka

Dambulla has become a hotbed for illegal activities, especially for grabbing land in the most shocking manner. Wasantha Kumara Herath’s (Wasantha Kumara) right hand was severely injured in a brutal, Chicago-style attack in broad daylight on the afternoon of July 30 on the road adjacent Thimbiriatthawala Wewa in Kumbukkandanwala, Sigiriya. Although more than 20 days have passed since the incident, there has been no progress in identifying the suspects or gathering key evidence. This raises concerns that Wasantha Kumara’s case, too, may end up being left unsolved and forgotten over time. Wasantha Kumara is the convener of Kumbukkandanwala Village Protection Front. He is a young man from the oldest lineage in the village, known as ‘Naidehami.’ He has attempted to protect the village’s tank system from damage caused by the tourism industry and to prevent the theft of government lands. While fighting against corruption in the village, he was attacked with a sword by a group of individuals and is currently receiving inpatient treatment at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.

• With the help of land brokers, and by closing the public road at the foot of Dunnabidunu Wewa and subdividing the land, plans are underway to hold a tourism festival that violates the government’s national tourism policy. The person posing as the organizer of this tourism festival was already running an illegal tourism business within the 200-yard Zone in Sigiriya
• In the capacity of the convener of Kumbukkandanwala Village Protection Front, Wasantha Kumara strongly opposed the tourism festival. As a first step, his request for legal action against the closure of the public road was successful. On10.07.2025, Dambulla Divisional Secretary instructed Grama Niladhari to reopen the road

Relentless campaign
Since 2011, Wasantha Kumara has been leading a relentless campaign to stop illegal activities in the village. A millionaire businessman, using political clout, closed the road leading to Maha Kapuaya Wewa. Wasantha reported this issue to Matale District Secretary (Who is also the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee) on June 10, 2017. The District Secretary then called for a ‘field inspection report’ before the Agriculture Committee on July 11, 2017. As a result of Wasantha’s actions, Dambulla Divisional Secretary had to acknowledge on March 7, 2019, that the road belongs to the government.
The 60 acres of land owned by the Department of Forest Conservation and situated above Maha Kapuaya Wewa is a protected reserve. The Kaludiya Pokuna Archaeological Reserve is located adjacent to it. These two reserves are separated by Dikyaya Ela. Land smugglers have used a grinder to destroy a cave inscription at the historic Thalayaya Galge, located in Maha Kapuaya Wewa Reserve. Wasantha Kumara reported this crime to the Department of Archaeology. Viraj Balasuriya, who was the Central Province Explorer at the time, inspected the damaged cave inscription and described the destruction as a national crime. A complaint was lodged with the Sigiriya Police on 05.04.2017 with the aim of filing a case against the perpetrators under the Archaeology Act. Wasantha Kumara came forward and gave a statement to help identify the criminals.
‘Game Wewa’ in Kumbukkandanwala is the oldest and largest tank in the area. This scenic tank is located along the road leading to Kaludiya Pokuna Archaeological Reserve. It consists of the three sluice systems typical of ancient tanks: the cistern, the mud sluice gate, and the central sluice. On the plots of land called ‘He Mahamuyaya’ and ‘Asvedduma Pillewa,’ there are two round-shaped threshing floors. On the access ground along the bund of the tank is ‘This Bambe’ (an area cleared and used for various functions on the tank bund), called Hemagahmula.”In 2018, a hotel company used mob power to reclaim paddy lands near this ancient tank, blocking the mud sluice canal in the process. Wasantha Kumara filed a complaint with the Sigiriya Police, accusing the chairman of the Farmers’ Association of forging documents to support these illegal activities. After the Chairman of Matale District Agriculture Committee complained to District Secretary, Agrarian Development Assistant Commissioner was informed by a letter dated 30.09.2019 to probe the incident and submit a report. 

The picture shows the assailants who harmed Wasantha Kumara vacating the scene of crime

The picture shows the place selected for the musical show being prepared

The public road leading to the paddy fields of the Dunnabidunu Wewa in Kumbukkandanwala village is seen closed

Despite raising his voice for 15 years against illegal activities in the Kumbukkandanwala village tank system and government lands, Wasantha Kumara was unable to achieve any worthwhile result. This was largely due to the political machinery supporting those illegal activities. At that time, the land brokers were powerful, and at times the corrupt state official network was in operation. 
Wasantha Kumara saw that under the present government, there was an environment where criminals involved in these illegal activities were being brought to justice. He noted that the new government’s ‘National Anti-Corruption Action Plan’ (2025–2029) was expected to create a group of citizens who would fight against corruption and reject it. Since he had already begun that process, he felt a surge of excitement, as if he had been given new lease of life. Wasantha Kumara is also engaged in a small tourism business, giving him a solid understanding of the industry. He was attracted to the Tourism Policy unveiled by the current government on 26.08.2024 and began exploring ways to align the village’s tourism activities with its principles. He observed, however, that in the past, some hotel owners had exploited the common resources of the village through mob power and financial influence. He opined that, the sustainable use of resources and strategic destination marketing highlighted in the government’s tourism policy are not being reflected in parts of the village’s tourism industry. Instead, he observed that the patterns of behaviour were similar to those of the ‘vagrants’ described in the Vagrants Ordinance introduced during the British era. 
It has come to light that a week before Wasantha Kumara’s right hand was severely injured in a sword attack, steps were being taken to allocate a plot of land belonging to the government to a tourist hotel owner- whose hotel is located at the foot of the village tank- on a long-term lease. The former Divisional Secretary of Dambulla had issued letter no DSM/DB/LND/Èndjd/438 dated 03.01.2024 with the subject “Preparation of Long-Term Lease” to the Provincial Land Commissioner. The purpose of the letter was to obtain the prior approval of the Minister of Lands for leasing the land. Plots 324, 328, 332, and 338 shown in Village Plan No. 510 had been requested for this purpose. 
Wasantha Kumara noted that among the plots requested, a reserved section known as Punchirala Nidapu Gala, located in the area and fed by the mud sluice at the base of the village tank, was included. According to the land use patterns of the village, this land has traditionally been used by villagers as a resting place after engaging in farming activities. On September 19, 2016, the hotel owner caused damage to this reserve area using a dozer, and a complaint was filed with the Grama Niladhari to protect the public land. Among the demands is a request for an access road to the 40 acres of government land where the old Kangatte House is located. This land was originally occupied by the Penalabada Muhamdiram family, who sold it through a Seettu (chit fund) to Rattharan Gedara Naide Muttha, an ancestor of the current hotel owner. 
Complaints were raised during the tenure of the previous government regarding the illegal activities taking place at the base of the village tank. He has therefore decided to expose these facts to the media and take action to prevent further destruction.
Closure of road 
While this incident was unfolding, some individuals suddenly closed the public road leading to the paddy fields of the Dunnabidunu Wewa in Kumbukkandanwala village. This road passes through the fishing village in Kap Ela, Kandalama. The historical cave complex known as Akuru Ketugala lies along this route, connecting the ancient tank embankment of Dunnabidunu Wewa shown in Village Plan No. 510 of Kumbukkandanwala. The complex features of the meditation chambers, carved out of black rock, allows monks to meditate. In front of the rock caves is a promenade, and there is a 250-acre forest reserve extending from Kumbukkandanwala to Rotarigama, the source of Mirisgoniya Oya that feeds Kala Wewa. On 08.07.2025, land smugglers abruptly closed the accessible road to this area. In response, on 09.07.2025, Wasantha Kumara lodged a complaint with Dambulla Divisional Secretary, requesting legal action and emphasising that no one had the right to block a public road.
However, the smugglers, undeterred by the closure of the public road, went on to block the government canal shown in Village Plan No. 223, through which water from the sluice of Dunnabidunu Wewa flows.
*According to Wasantha Kumara, with the help of land brokers, and by closing the public road at the foot of Dunnabidunu Wewa and subdividing the land, plans are underway to hold a tourism festival that violates the government’s national tourism policy. He has reasonable grounds to believe so. The person posing as the organizer of this tourism festival was already running an illegal tourism business within the 200-yard Zone in Sigiriya. A similar tourism festival was held in Habarana in 2024, but had to be stopped midway due to protests by villagers. During previous governments, there were several attempts to hold such tourism festivals, but they were not approved due to culturally objectionable elements and the use of intoxicating substances.
In the capacity of the convener of Kumbukkandanwala Village Protection Front, Wasantha Kumara strongly opposed the tourism festival. As a first step, his request for legal action against the closure of the public road was successful. On10.07.2025, Dambulla Divisional Secretary instructed Grama Niladhari to reopen the road.
Not stopping there, Wasantha Kumara sought to draw the attention of authorities to the dangerous drugs allegedly used under the cover of foreign tourist festivals. Accordingly, his aim was to raise awareness about the toxic drugs subtly used during the tourism festivals held in the village. He wanted to raise awareness as how it’s documented in the book Prevalence and Current Trends in Drug Use in Nightclubs, published by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. His goal was to protect the village youth from exposure to these substances while ensuring that the government’s National Tourism Policy was properly implemented at the village level.
Even though Wasantha Kumara witnessed the consequences of this entertainment festival, the necessary support to hold the event was obtained through the help of a person closely connected to a cabinet minister. This person is connected to a powerful politician in Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha. According to a spokesperson from the Matale District Excise Office, the applicant was instructed to submit police recommendations and pay the entertainment tax to the local authorities in exchange for an F.L. 14 Occasional License, which would permit the use of alcohol at the festival, scheduled to be held at the foot of the tank for three days with camps erected on the site. The collection of entertainment tax from the festival is being carried out in accordance with the approval obtained during a general council meeting of the Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha. 
In his statement to the Sigiriya Police, Wasantha Kumara named a land broker who allegedly aided and abetted the attack that left his right hand severely injured. This person’s involvement is also evident in the subdivision of land plots in the tourist camping area, being developed at the foot of Dunnabidunu Wewa. 
This individual appears as a land broker in the case in which an indictment has been filed by the Attorney General, on charges of forging documents for a plot of land subject to settlement in Mahakapuya Wewa. His involvement is also seen in the case of plots of land, in the tourist camping area, being developed at the foot of Dunnabidunu Wewa. 
Sigiriya Police reported this matter to the court under case number B.1015/25 on 01.08.2025.  

“We will levy an entertainment tax on this festival”
- Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman

The Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha is prepared to collect the entertainment tax from the relevant festival organisers. When inquired about this, Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, W. M. Thilakarathne, stated: “We will levy an entertainment tax on this festival. Anyone holding a festival within our jurisdiction is required to pay the tax. If liquor or other illegal activities are involved, permission must be obtained from the relevant authorities. Our officers will inspect the tickets sold, calculate the revenue, and determine the fee accordingly.”

“We are yet to identify the assailants”
- ASP Chandrasiri

When questioned about the attack, Dambulla Assistant Superintendent of Police W. G. M. M. Chandrasiri stated: “A person named Wasantha was attacked with a sword. Preliminary investigations are underway. We are yet to identify the assailants. The person who was with him at the time fled and has no information about the attackers. We have not yet found the number plate of the bicycle they used, nor do we have any CCTV footage. Further investigations are being conducted in Moratuwa.
“We do not know whether this was a personal dispute. We granted permission for the Deep Jungle Festival and also for sound broadcasting. If any drug use occurs at the festival, we will enforce the law.”