SL to update colonial-era land policies to meet current development needs

12 May 2023 06:20 am Views - 560

• President instructs officials to amend provisions of land management ordinances and introduce new regulations
• Stresses that archaic land policies established during the colonial era are no longer suited to modern development needs
• Instructs officials to acquire lands for government purposes at market value in the future

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a revamp of the outdated colonial-era land regulations to cater to the country’s current development needs. 

During a meeting with relevant officials at the Presidential Secretariat this week, he instructed them to amend provisions of the land management ordinances and introduce new regulations. 

The President emphasised that the archaic land policies established during the colonial era are no longer suited to modern development needs.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also stressed the need for land reforms in Sri Lanka to improve private access to land and unlock the country’s growth potential. 

Consequently, a new land policy is currently being formulated to remove existing obstacles and provide land for development activities.

According to the President’s Media Division, Wickremesinghe instructed officials to gather details of landowners and land usage at the Grama Niladhari Division level and prepare a report at Divisional Secretariat levels. 

The report should contain information about the extent of land usage and details of unutilised land blocks.

The President also instructed officials to acquire lands for government purposes at market value in the future and redistribute unutilised land blocks acquired for government projects, which are yet to be finalised. 

In addition, he instructed officials to take prompt steps to fill vacancies in the Survey Department and the Valuation Department to expedite their preparations.

To resolve land disputes at the Provincial Council level, the President instructed officials to set up a land commission. 

Key state officials, including the chief of staff and senior advisor to the President on national security, Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government K.D.N. Ranjith Asoka, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism & Lands H.M.B.P. Herath, Secretary to the Ministry Of Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation R.M.C.M. Herath, Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation U.D.C Jayalal, and Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries Janaka Dharmakeerthi were present at the meeting.