The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, I answer as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) According to the Certificate of Vesting of Possession, practically 101 acres are held by the Land Reform Commission.

¶ 03 (ii) A list of 20 institutions exists. Accordingly, 89 acres, 2 roods, 6 perches have been allotted; the balance is 11 acres, 1 rood, 34 perches.

¶ 04 (iii) 27 acres, 0 roods, 23.79 perches to the Industrial Development Board.

¶ 05 (b) (i) After reactivating the Commission’s functions from 1995 and obtaining approval of the then subject Minister in 2005, the Commission approved allocation of land plots to Commission employees who had not yet received a plot: - In declared urban areas: 10 perches - In non-urban areas: 20 perches Eligibility requires 5 years of uninterrupted service and no disciplinary infractions. The scheme operates under Commission approval, applying general policy and criteria.

¶ 06 (ii) Commission letters have been annexed as Annexures 01 and 02.

¶ 07 (iii) When resistance arose upon employees entering possession of the subject plots, cases were filed against the Divisional Secretary, Pradeshiya Sabha and the District Coordinating Committee. In case No. CA (Writ) 0288, the Court of Appeal confirmed the employees’ rights. A copy of the restraining order is annexed as Annexure 03. Annexures 01, 02 and 03 are tabled.

¶ 08 (iv) For regularization of unauthorised occupants, Plan No. 1584 has been prepared with 23 lots. Fifteen have been issued permits. In line with prevailing State policy and approved Commission procedures, further steps are being taken to regularize the remaining occupants.

¶ 09 (c) Not applicable.

¶ 10 Mr. Speaker, some questions require lengthy answers. I have been brief; detailed answers with annexures are tabled and can be provided to the Hon. Member.