A group of around 50 people have reportedly tried to take over the Green Lanka building at Navam Mawatha in Colombo 02, after gradually entering the building since Saturday night (03).

The building is said to have been forcibly occupied by Indian businessman Raju Radha for some time now.
The first group of around 12 persons had entered the building around 10.45 pm last Saturday, and entered the sixth and seventh floors of the building where the Indian businessman is residing. This was followed by a group of nearly 50 people entering the same floors around 1.00 am yesterday.

Subsequently, the Kompanna Vidiya police had entered the building, removed the trespassers and recorded statements.Officials of Mercantile Investments – the company currently owning the building, have also given statements to the police.Police later said that 23 people who were arrested for trespassing the building were released.However, reports say that the police chief had acted in favour of Mr. Radha. A ministry-level inquiry is also to be launched in this regard, reports add.

According to reports, a retired Senior Superintendent of Police by the name Bandula, has been tasked with the building’s security by Mr. Radha.

‘Shady dealings’
This nine-storey building initially belonging to Green Lanka has been mortgaged by its owners to Mercantile Investments, a leasing company located in Kollupitiya.

The leasing company has filed a case in the Supreme Court that the Indian national Raju Radha is illegally occupying and using this building through a Malaysian company, Asia Capital PLC.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an investigation into the allegations that Mr. Radha has been staying in the building since 2014 with the backing of political and high-ranking police officials and had rented out the floors of the building to several companies.

The second floor of the building has been rented by Pastor Jerome Fernando to conduct religious services.
It is also reported several relatives of the Thondaman family, former Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) director – Ravi Waidyalankara and his son, as well as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s private secretary – Uditha Lokubandara, have houses in this building.

It was reported that a nightclub owned by well known businessman Nalin Fonseka, is also located in the building.

A cafe owned by Raju Radha’s daughter is located at the rooftop, reports add.

Previously, media had reported that some individuals in this building had been accused of forcibly seizing property and land worth billions after deceiving wives of Colombo businessmen.