Title deeds for allotees of LRC lands in Nivithigala

Karavita special corr.

NIVITHIGALA: People in the Nivithigala electorate who have received Land Reform Commission (LRC) lands will be provided with title deeds to their allotments before the end of this year, said Rural Industries and Self Employment promotion Deputy Minister and Ratnapura District MP Premalal Jayasekera.

He was addressing the gathering at a mobile service organised by the LRC at the Nivithigala Divisional Secretariat recently.

Jayasekera said allotees of LRC lands have faced grave inconvenience as their holdings had not been regularised for the past 30 years.

Although initial preparations for granting title deeds for these lands were begun in 2001 the actual granting of title deeds had got delayed due to change of governments.

LRC Chairman Sarath Keerthiratne said steps have now been taken to streamline the activities of the LRC. Since lands acquired by the LRC were over 50 acres in extent.

The Commission needed more than Rs. 300 million to pay compensation to their owners. Therefore the LRC had to impose a Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,000 levy per perch from the allotees of LRC lands to raise part of this money. Allotees who could not afford to make this payment could obtain loans from Samurdhi Banks to do so since the LRC had made arrangements for it with the Samurdhi Bank.

Nivithigala Divisional Secretary Muthunayake and other officials participated.