No deed for Parliament complex and adjoining land

By Skandha Gunasekara

It was revealed in Parliament on Thursday (24 May) that the Parliament and the 12-acre plot of land it is situated on had no deed for the past 36 years.

The Speaker Karu Jayasuriya made this disclosure in response to a question raised by UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana under Standing Order 27/2 regarding the ceremony to be held for the granting of the Deed.

“Hon. Speaker, we have received a letter signed by you requesting us to attend a ceremony to officially grant the deed for the land where the Parliament currently stands.  The Parliament was moved here in 1982. Does this mean that there was no official deed for this land for the past 36 years?” MP Pathirana inquired.

The Speaker responded in the affirmative and that the situation would be rectified soon.

He said that the deed would be officially handed over to him in the coming weeks.