Formulated in State Council by British rulers:

Lands Act should be amended to suit present needs – minister

A.A.L. Dias Matale district group corr

The Lands Act which was formulated and passed by the British rulers in the State Council long years ago, still exists in our country and is responsible for several problems encountered by the people. Therefore this Act must be amended as soon as possible so as to suit the present needs of all citizens alike, Land and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said.

The minister was addressing a meeting held at Digampathaha, Siyabalawewa in the Dambulla area following the inauguration of an electricity power project which is designed to serve several villages in the district.

The minister stated that once the existing Lands Act is amended, foreigners will not be able to grab lands at ‘dirt cheap’ prices in the country and that the sons and daughters of Sri Lankan would be the rightful owners of this motherland.

He reminded that at present thousands of landless families live in the district and explained that the government has decided to alienate blocks of lands for the landless to set up permanent dwelling houses and also to make their livelihood. They would then be the possessors of the motherland.

He emphasised that the government, should preserve this heritage.

The minister said that during the UNP regime, all state resources had been distributed among its party supporters, which resulted in the destruction of public wealth.

However in future, the government will never pave the way for foreigners as well as opportunists to occupy lands, he stated. The minister said that the current situation would be changed and that amendments to the Lands Act will be submitted to Parliament soon.

Speaking further the minister stated that at present, the government hardly faces any objections from the opposition parties. The Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe supports the government to continue its tasks, he added.

Provincial Councillor Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, Member of the Dambulla PS, Nandana Bandara also spoke.