People living in state lands directed to obtain clear titles

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

The Land Commissioner General’s Department, in an Extraordinary Gazette notification, yesterday requested the people to make applications in order to consider giving away clear titles for their lands. 

The directive was given to people using state lands to construct permanent houses, and for agriculture or any 
development purposes. 

The Gazette notification was issued under the signature of Land Commissioner General R. M. C. M. Herath.  

The Gazette said the programme was initiated by the Government in terms of the “Visions of Prosperity and Splendour” policy statement.  According to the policy statement, managing state lands at its optimum level to enhance investment opportunities, to promote local dairy production and to cultivate local food crops were some  of the main objectives of the government.  

As an initiative to reach that goal, the Government had planned to issue legal documents immediately in a transparent manner, to the people who had developed the state land without formal documents, in order to ensure clear title.  

The programme was to duly identify the people who had occupied the state lands illegally  and  to confirm their eligibility, thereby implementing it to grant them a legal document to confirm their ownership.  

“Therefore, applications are invited from the entire country except in Colombo and Gampaha Districts. Special development projects will be implemented in Colombo and Gampaha Districts.The duly completed application prepared as per the specimen noticed in the Gazette should be handed over to the Divisional Secretariat, in which the land is located or to the respective Grama Niladhari/Field officer,” it is said.  

The closing date will be 30 September and all applications will be registered by the respective Divisional Secretaries and 
Land Kachcheries.  

Registered of applications will be notified by the Divisional Secretary falling within the period from October 1 to 21.