The government’s efforts to address historical grievances and land rights remain a contentious issue, with ongoing debates on equitable land distribution and the impact on rural communities.
In a recent ceremony in Sri Lanka’s Badulla District, President Ranil Wickremesinghe disclosed that a court ruling had obstructed a government initiative from two decades ago aimed at granting freehold rights to citizens. The event marked the issuance of deeds to 662 individuals under a new program, contrasting sharply with the halted “Urumaya” initiative of 2002-2003.
President Wickremesinghe explained that the Urumaya program was suspended following a court decision mandating a referendum for its continuation. The initiative originally sought to compensate individuals displaced by the construction of the Kotmale and Theldeniya reservoirs by granting them freehold rights in relocated areas.
“If we had been able to proceed with the program back then,” remarked Wickremesinghe, “we could have secured land rights for these people 20 years ago.” He lamented that subsequent to the court’s decision, foreign investors were given preferential treatment with free land allocations, raising questions about equity in land distribution policies.
The President highlighted a recent controversy involving the allocation of government land for the Shangri-La Hotel, citing it as an example of selective application of land ordinances. “If such allocations can be made under existing laws,” he questioned, “why couldn’t we grant land rights to 2 million people?”
Sri Lanka, where agricultural land comprises 45.46 per cent of the total land area, faces challenges in land governance. The President also emphasized the legal framework around land permits and grants, cautioning against encroachment and underscoring the consequences for unauthorized land transactions.
The government’s efforts to address historical grievances and land rights remain a contentious issue, with ongoing debates on equitable land distribution and the impact on rural communities.
