Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has withdrawn an application in the Court of Appeal, challenging the Government’s controversial land circular for the North and East.
This was on the basis of an undertaking by the Government not to implement provisions of the circular.
Mr. Sumanthiran said he reserved the right to file a fresh application, if it was necessary later.
The Bench comprising Justices S. Sriskandarajah and Deepali Wijesundera permitted the withdrawal.
The State had earlier conceded that the circular which was flawed, was being reconsidered by officials, and did not object to a ‘Stay Order’ preventing the operation of the public notice.
Thereafter, an undertaking was given in court, that the Respondents would take steps to withdraw the circular, and no steps taken to implement it. Petitioner Mr. Sumanthiran stated that the Land Circular exclusively dealt with land in the Northern and Eastern provinces, and it would temporarily suspend all distribution of land in the North and East, unless lands are distributed for national security and special development projects, and would provide for the settlement of disputes relating to State land.