The initiative seeks to grant absolute ownership of lands that were originally allocated under permits and grants issued in terms of the Land Development Ordinance No. 19 of 1935. Due to the absence of full ownership rights, beneficiaries have faced various difficulties in utilizing the land for personal, developmental, and economic purposes.
Accordingly, the conditions attached to permits and grants issued under the Land Development Ordinance will be removed, and freehold title deeds will be issued in compliance with Section 2 of the State Lands Ordinance No. 8 of 1947.
Under this programme, “Himika” freehold grants will be presented to beneficiaries who voluntarily hand over their existing permits and grants to the State.
On the first day of the programme, 500 “Himika” freehold title deeds are scheduled to be distributed to beneficiaries in the Anuradhapura District. Plans are also in place to extend the programme islandwide, covering all districts in the future.
The programme is being implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, in collaboration with the Department of the Land Commissioner General.
