Govt. Minister Accused Of Unlawfully Occupying Cinema
- No Rent Payment Says Owner
By Nirmala Kannangara
Correspondence regarding Devanada’s illegal occupation of Sridhar Cinema
Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda has been accused of unlawful occupation at Sridhar Cinema at 45, Stanley Road, Jaffna since 1996 which belongs to R. Mahendraraviraj. Sridhar Cinema, which was one of the leading cinema halls in Jaffna had to shut down in 1991 during the height of the war and was later used by a private firm as its stores.
“Once this private company vacated my building, I deployed a few security guards to look after my property since I was residing in England. It was then that Devananda occupied the building after chasing away my security guards at gun point. Since then I have been deprived of any access to my paternal property,” said Mahendraraviraj.
According to him, Minister Devananda is neither paying him a rent nor is willing to vacate the premises for him to start the cinema hall once again.
“I have been deprived of an income by Devananda over the past 16 years. When I knew that Devananda is forcibly staying at my premises I asked him to pay Rs.1 lakh per month but he said that he does not have money but could pay only Rs. 5,000 which is a pittance considering the location,” said Mahendraraviraj.
Mahendraraviraj who is presently residing in Australia has meanwhile sent letters to all government officials including the former President Chandrika Kumaratunge while she was in office and later to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to get Devananda removed from the building but to no avail.
“At least the former President had the courtesy to acknowledge receipt of my letter and had ordered her secretary to take prompt action although it did not work out.
I am surprised as to why President Rajapaksa and his brother the Defence Secretary is silent though my grievances have been told to them. Since Devananda is a member of Rajapaksa cabinet and because I being a Tamil and want to open the cinema to provide entertainment to the people who have undergone untold hardships during the war, it is the responsibility of the present government to help me out to get this building back from Devananda,” said Mahendraraviraj.
According to him, more than 25 letters have been sent to Minister Devananda requesting him to vacate the building and has made over 1,000 telephone calls.
“Whenever I called on his personal mobile he promises to vacate the building at the earliest – like a typical politician. But it never happens. When I called him on Wednesday August 8, he said that he cannot vacate the building because he has a lot of work to be carried out for the election,” said Mahendraraviraj. According to Mahendraraviraj, all his attempts to file legal action against Devananda have not worked out since Jaffna lawyers are frightened to appear against him knowing what the consequences would be.
“I wanted to file a case against Devanada, but the Jaffna lawyers are frightened of their lives. A friend of mine told that I can file a fundamental rights case in Colombo but so far failed to come across a brave lawyer who can bring Devananda to courts which would be my last resort. As we all know this is a government that came into power to serve the people but is engulfed with corruption and are only interested in increasing their bank balances but nothing else. I do not expect any favours from this government,” said Mahendraraviraj.
However Minister Douglas Devananda refuted the allegations saying that he has paid rent to one of the partners of this cinema.
“True, I occupied this building as no one was using it during the war. But I paid a rent to a person who claimed to be one of the partners of this hall. It was in 2009 or 2010 that I came to know that I have paid the rent to the wrong person. Since then I stopped paying rent as I am waiting for the legal owner to come,” said Devananda. However Devananda does not know as to whom he paid the rent or how much. “I have to speak to my party office people,” he said. Devananda further said that he has promised Mahndraraviraj to return the building before the end of this year as he needs time to find a replacement.
“I have never cheated any person. I never told him that I cannot vacate the building due to election work. There are no elections in the Northern Province. I never occupied this building forcibly because no one was occupying it.
Earlier in 1985 the ground floor was occupied by the LTTE and the upper floor by the EPRLF without any rental. Why is the owner accusing me for not paying him money when he did not receive money from the LTTE and EPRLF as well,” queried Devananda.
The last statement which is self contradictory, shows just how third grade these waste of space politicians are. He says he’s not a cheat but questions why he should pay when someone (‘who’ they are is irrelevant) didn’t pay (possibly on the same ‘forced’ grounds) TWENTY SEVEN years ago!!!
From what Devananda says if LTTE has not paid a rent why should he pay. This means that his is a also terrorist outfit as the LTTE.
Just because a building is empty can u just walk in and occupy ? and this by a custodian of the rights of the people.. a Politician… strange
Devananda proves himself as a third class roughe. Devananda – a Minister of present Sri Lankan Government is widely accused of extortion, kidnapping, murders and raping incidents. It seems that he is protected by Sri Lankan Government and its security forces because the losers were Tamils.
It will truly be a “miracle of Asia” if this person gets his property back. The lame excuses he is meting out for not vacating makes one want to puke. These are the scum who are supposed to be our guardians. I hope that the President will intervene and get R M his land back.
Mr. R.M,, the victim says he has written to the President complaining this matter. If the government is not encouraging wrong acts it is nothing but correct that the office of the President could respond to RM. Surely, the Presidential Secretariat is full of coordinating officers and a note from his office to this affected person would give RM some consolation. If there is no response from the Presidential Secretariat would give the impression that Hon. Devananda’s act is condoned.
If Rajapaksa is the KIng of SL, Douglas is the Emperor of the North. Will he ever hand over the hard earned propoerty of the owners.
Even if he returns it Raviraj would need Trillions to renovate the theater – removing bunkers etc…..
Sarah Australia
its about time this parasite is removed from society
A crook , criminal and tyrant pretending as a saviour of tamil people with his party named EPDP; and then he was embraced warmly and kept on their lap by Singala governments of all colour using him to unleash tyrany and murder on the innocent tamils of Jaffna penisula which is contuing unabated. You could see from this affected property owner highlighting his plight at the hands of this rogue kept as a pet by present Singala government only to subjugate tamil population with any criminal means. So terrorised that even a lawyer is scared to appear in the courts to bring this case to seek justice. Anyhow judiciary also not independent in this country. It is a mob rule .
Shame on you you Tamil Supporter, Why the hell did go to stay in some one elses Property, Don’t come out with The commen lie’s of Raja and Company, When they want some one’s Property. You better retain that Land to show that you love your People more than Money and Power. Shame on you you Ras…l.
Did the owner ask the LTTE or protested when LTTE occupied the bulding? If he did not, then we have to assume that he let the LTTE use it or willingly given to LTTE, which is ‘aiding and abetting’ terrorists. By that argument, the state can seize the property.
mr. mahdenraviraj, Minister Devavnanda says he can pay rent. Why dont you work with him, and try to get the property back? You are considering ‘entertaining the Tamil people by running cienma in this building, only becuase the government (and by extension Devananda) has wiped out the terrorists. If not, you will sitting in Asutralia or England and entertain yourself. So, give room to those who made this situation possible for you and all the Tamils. Be patient and work cordially with these people.
The government has no intention of developing Tamil areas. The war ended in 2009 yet thugs like devananda are breaking law every day. Mahendraraj the rightful owner should be given the property back to carry on his business. The blame should go to Rajapakse and not this mindless thug Devananda.
Mr. Mahendraraviraj are you a Sri Lankan or an Australian citizen ? How you can claim this building and how you can use it, depends on your current citizenship.
If you cannot find a lawyer from Jaffna why can’t you find a lawyer from Colombo ?
Probably if you file a case more things might come to the surface. Like how you got the Aussie passport and benefit etc. Or how you supported LTTE while in Australia. Don’t we know that better ? Ah ?
Use your brain man. Try to get the building at the end of the year amicably without going public and loosing everything by throwing stones at others from your glass house.
the fellow claiming to be owner of the cinema is sure an LTTE hardcore, now he wants to give entertainment to Jaffna people; Douglas also an LTTE member so it doesn’t make any difference who occupies the place now. Horrible terrorists now speaking about justice and fairness.
Messers Sath and Kosala,
I am not intending to brand both of you in the same group with Mr Sujeewa. But it would appear that the thinking of all three of is almost alike for some strange reason…….
If we leave the politics aside for the time being, and look at things in a logical manner we could make life easy for everyone. If all of us could undersatnd the saying “Live and Let Live” the issue could be easily resolved.
It would appear that Mr Raviraj had been in contact with the Minister for a long time, with no avial, and I would guess that is probably the reason why he decided to go public.
The media is also trying to stir the pot to settle their score with the Hon Minister.
Name calling will only make us sub-humans. I think it is in everyones interest to amicably settle the issue by negotiation.
Thamilan and Thamilan fighting would make others to laugh at us.
Plesae talk to the Miniter and get it settled amicably.
Cheers
Cheran
Dear Mr Sujeewa,
I don’t think anyone need to employ James Bond to find out that you are a close ally of Mr Devanda. You have every right to be so, and no one – not even Prabakaran – can deny that. This is your democratic right. What I am surprised about is that you are trying to support Mr Devanda at the expense of a private individual. This is not democracy…… It really does not matter whether the owner lives in Sri Lanka or overseas. Mr Raviraj is the rightful owner of the property in accordance with the law of the land. Just because Mr Devanda is a minister of the Government he can’t seize/acquire a property for his private or party use.
Now that you have shown your real colour, why not advice the Hon Minister to do the right thing by a private individual and bring a peaceful negotiated settlement?
If you can acheive this, then you will be able to prove to the whole world that your ally Mr Devananda is not a hooligan as others in the series of emails are trying to debict.
Good Luck to you, the Hon Minister and Mr Raviraj.
Cheran
The biggest problem in Sri Lanka is absence of law and order. Though there is well established legal framework in exist,more dangerously an executive president is there to override any judicial justice. That’s why people like Devananda could take law to his hand because he knows where the protection is.
The change in the system and resorting the powers to parliament establishing law and order is all what we need. We need democracy and we don’t need all powerful kings any more.World has moved far forward from that era.
Douglas must understand the LTTE was an unlawful organisation. Sri Lankan state is a sovereign body; it must obey the democratic law. Douglas must not compare the Sri Lanka state with the LTTE. It’s very sad to see the intellectual capacity of our ministers. God save Lanka.
A minister is not expected to behave like terrorist groups did earlier – the owner DID NOT DARE to ask them for rent.
Devanada is accused of running armed paramilitariy goons. Does this entitle him for rent free accomodtion?