Former Minister Navin Dissanayake found himself at the centre of a controversy when he prevented the Urban Development Authorities from removing a cafeteria in Nuwaraeliya.

Dissanayake, who rushed to the site, said the authority should obtain a court order to remove the construction. The UDA maintained that the lease agreement of the cafeteria had expired and therefore the cafeteria would be deemed an unauthorised construction.

However, the officials representing the UDA sad they had sufficient powers to proceed with their act. As a result of the former Minister's opposition's the UDA Assistant Director in the district was also forced to intervene in the situation.

After several rounds of discussion, the UDA officials left the venue after giving a 48-hour notice to the owner of the cafeteria.