Ministerial Committee on LRC lands

COLOMBO: The Government has appointed a ministerial committee to look into the present situation of lands entrusted to the Land Reform Commission (LRC).

The first meeting of the Committee comprising Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister D.E.W. Gunasekere, Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Land and Land Development Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga was held this week.

Around 988,000 hectares of land are presently under the LRC’s control.

Among the main tasks of the Committee are inquiring into the position of these lands and making recommendations to address long standing problems affecting them.

The Committee will also analyse the manner in which lands have so far been distributed by the LRC, determine the true extent of land presently held by the Commission and recommend steps to be taken regarding unauthorised occupation of these lands.

The final report of the Committee is expected to be handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa within six months.