The Land Thief -- probably one of the most powerful criminals in Sri Lanka

"It is reported recently that Dy Mayor has taken bribes and allowed to build a 5 story building facing new parliament road at Welikada junction near police station which is illegal and banned by law due to security reasons. Even in side roads close to parliament road and surrounding area it is illegal to build tall buildings more than 3 stories."

(October 15, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Kotte (Sri Jayawardena Pura) Deputy Mayor Janaka Ranawaka who is popular as "Idam Hora-Land Thief" is another criminal active in Sri Lanka politics.

It is alleged that he takes bribes for everything and has made millions illegally. Now it has become worst in Kotte. People say that they cannot put a new wood peace into their own garden fence without giving ‘santhosam’ to Janaka R.

He associates with all the well known thugs in and around the area and helps them to carry out their illegal activities, selling illicit liquor, drugs, collecting ransoms, running brothels etc. He uses them to punish his political opponents and threaten people. He uses these thugs for his survival in politics and also for filling ballet boxes and pasting posters during elections. In return he provides them police protection and free run for illegal acts in the area.

He has occupied barren lands belonging to the government and sells them making fake deeds which he hands over to his relatives and supportors. If government checks recently registered deeds (last 10-12 years) belonging to the Kotte area at Land Registry Office, they will find a huge number of fake deeds registered by this crook.

He has sold some abandon lands belonging to many Sri Lankans who live in foreign countries also registered under different names after making fake deeds.

The three story house he has built and resides in at present at Circular Lane, Off Sapumal Place, Welikada, Rajagiriya also belongs to a Sri Lankan family living abroad. A few years ago when this family visited Sri Lanka on holiday they found out people have occupied their land located in a very prime location. They have complained to the Welikada Police Station about this politician when they found out the new development taking place on their land. Janaka R openly threatened their lives using his thugs who told them at gun point that if they visit Sri Lanka again to claim this land back they would be killed. Janaka R still lives there with his family peacefully, there has been no action from the police, no investigation. So far nothing was happened.

Part of that land was given to his friend who is the owner of the Three Singhe Hardware shop at Rajagiriya. This man takes bribes on behalf of Janaka, taking all the building construction and supply material contracts for work carried out by Kotte Municipal Council. It is doubt that Kotte MC follows proper Tender procedures to provide those to this businessman.

Earlier there were a few other incidents when this thug and his men attacked staff members of media organisations and journalists including Lanka news paper.

It is reported recently that Dy Mayor has taken bribes and allowed to build a 5 story building facing new parliament road at Welikada junction near police station which is illegal and banned by law due to security reasons. Even in side roads close to parliament road and surrounding area it is illegal to build tall buildings more than 3 stories. So every day Dy mayor passes this place to Kotte Municipal council and how on earth he does not notice these illegal acts. According to locals he has given a lion share to keep his mouth shut and given his blessings for this illegal building.

He comes from a notorious family back ground including criminals in the family. One brother was accused of drug trafficking, another of stabbing a man and all those incidents were thrown out without any punishment or investigation due to political pressure. They take bribes promising people to get their jobs done at the Kotte Municipal council. The brother who stabbed a man is a Samurdi Officer who was accused of stealing public funds and rations allocated for poor people.

Janaka R’s family members have mistresses everywhere and very good at running away with women.

He says in public that he is a close associate of President Rajapakse’s eldest son Namal Rajapaksa MP and an active member of Nil Balakaya. He has political cover up. So people turn a blind eye on the illegal acts this little Mervin carries out in Kotte. They believe that no action will be taken against him despite the thousands of complaints lodged with the political hierarchy and the police.

At the same time if he finds out any one complains against him, that is the end of his or her peaceful life not only in Kotte but also in Sri Lanka.