The government has initiated discussions to amend existing laws to take over the trust fund that manages Ambuluwawa, following serious concerns over its administration and the use of public funds, according to a report by the state-owned newspaper.
Officials from the Ministry of Buddhasasana, the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Department have jointly begun deliberations on possible legal reforms related to the trust’s governance.
Ambuluwawa is currently administered under the Ambuluwawa Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne Religious Centre and Biodiversity Complex Trust Act No. 44 of 2009. Under this Act, the land was transferred to the trust through a deed executed by the Chief Trustee, subject to specific conditions. Authorities have now disclosed that several of these conditions may have been violated.
Section 19 of the Act stipulates that the founder of the trust is the late Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne, while Section 16 states that, upon the founder’s death, his son should assume the role, followed by the eldest male descendant in the family. However, the trust’s current administration has come under scrutiny for alleged deviations from these provisions.
The trust, governed by a board of seven trustees appointed by the founder, has faced growing criticism over its management practices, including concerns about land allocation, administrative decision-making and the funding of development activities at the site.
Authorities have revealed that more than Rs. 600 million in public funds has been spent on development work at Ambuluwawa, yet no action has reportedly been taken on past audit findings, raising serious questions about accountability and oversight.
Discussions among the relevant ministries and institutions are ongoing to determine the most appropriate legal and administrative course of action. Officials have also emphasized that any steps taken will seek to protect the tourism sector, given Ambuluwawa’s significance as a major tourist attraction.
