President Mahinda Rajapakse, has directed the Director General of Buddhist Affairs to take immediate steps to inform the Judiciary of the true position of the property at Natha Devale, according to the Governor of the Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa,

Mr. Kobbekaduwa had earlier apprised the President on an order placed by the Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretary T. Bandara Tennakoon on a fifty perch land within the Sacred Area of Kandy. The property covers the Old Dharmaraja College Building, the Bo-tree of Natha Devale and the Viharege of Natha Devale.the order is for all those in occupation to vacate the building and premises by January 6, 2012.

However, these premises come under the Sacred City area planning scheme and had been gazetted by Gazette Extraordinary on November 08, 2001.

The Chief Incumbent Ven. Gomagoda Rathanasara Thera of the Natha Devale Pansala told the ' Daily Mirror ' that by this order placed by the Divsional Secretary, the entire 50 perches falls within the sacred area of Natha Devale and that it would be a hindrance to the devotees during Poya Days, during the National Pageant of the Kandy Esala Perahera and also of the various rites and ceremonies connected with God Natha.

The Thera further said that whoever had placed this order on the property within the Sacred City has so obtained without showing the Gazette of November 08, 2001.

He also said that the Director General of Buddhist Affairs had been apprised of this issue.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka