The government has begun discussions to amend existing laws to take over the trust fund managing Ambuluwawa, following serious concerns over its administration and use of public funds, State Newspaper Silumina Reported.
Officials from the Ministry of Buddhasasana, the Ministry of Justice, and the Attorney General’s Department have jointly initiated discussions on legal reforms related to the trust.
Ambuluwawa is currently governed under the Ambuluwawa Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne Religious Centre and Biodiversity Complex Trust Act No. 44 of 2009. Under the Act, the land was transferred to the trust through a deed executed by the Chief Trustee, subject to specific conditions. Authorities have now revealed that several of those conditions may have been violated by the trust.
According to Section 19 of the Act, the founder of the trust is required to be the late Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne. Section 16 further states that upon the death of the founder, his son should succeed to the position, followed thereafter by the eldest male descendant in the family line.
The trust, which is governed by a board of seven trustees appointed by the founder, has come under intense criticism over its management practices. Serious concerns have been raised over how land has been allocated, how administrative decisions have been taken, and how development activities at Ambuluwawa have been funded.
Authorities have revealed that more than Rs. 600 million in public funds has been spent on development work at the site. Despite this, no action has been taken on past audit findings related to the trust, raising further questions about accountability and oversight.
Officials from the relevant ministries and institutions are continuing discussions on the most appropriate legal and administrative steps forward. They have also stressed that any action taken will ensure that the tourism industry is not adversely affected, given Ambuluwawa’s importance as a major tourist attraction. (Newswire)