Initiatives launched to return lands acquired by Forest, Wildlife Departments

25 November 2023 11:24 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, Nov. 25 (Daily Mirror) - Efforts have been initiated to return the lands that were originally owned by the residents of the Northern and Eastern Provinces which were subsequently acquired by the Forests Department and the Wildlife Conservation Department following the war, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Pavitra Vanniarachchi said.

As of now, lands owned since 1985 or earlier have been officially designated as forests under the purview of the Forest Conservation Department or as areas allocated to the Wildlife Department, the Minister said.

However, the Minister said there are plans to return these lands to the local communities in the respective areas in the future.

The Minister made this announcement during a recent discussion at the Ratnapura District Secretariat on the transfer of lands previously owned by the local residents but subsequently handed over to the Forest Conservation Department of the Ratnapura District.

The Minister mentioned that lands owned by residents in regions such as the Balangoda Rajawaka Reserve and other areas in the Ratnapura district have been officially designated to the Department of Forestry. However, following a re-survey, the boundaries will be clearly demarcated, and the respective areas will be returned to the local people.

Furthermore, the Minister said that meticulously delineated reserve boundaries will be officially gazetted to prevent any unauthorized acquisition. Stringent measures will be implemented to safeguard these areas, and every possible effort will be undertaken to enhance the country's forest cover, aiming for an increase to 32% by preserving the integrity of the forest reserve.

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Comments - 12

Mokan Saturday, 25 November 2023 01:36 PM

Good Move

Ram Saturday, 25 November 2023 02:15 PM

Chanda Gunduwak wage. Our Tamil friends are intelligent enough not to fall for these promises

Mahila Saturday, 25 November 2023 02:31 PM

IMPORTANT question that BEGS Answer is, "Why in the first place such acquisition took place - BEING PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS???" That Action and Circumstances thereto, “WHY, HOW, WHEN

Warner Saturday, 25 November 2023 03:06 PM

Just to please the North and Eastern crowd as Election is not far away

Mahila Sunday, 26 November 2023 05:10 AM

“Minister made this announcement during ---- at the Ratnapura District Secretariat --- TRANSFER OF LANDS PREVIOUSLY owned by the LOCAL RESIDENTS BUT SUBSEQUENTLY HANDED OVER to the Forest Conservation DEPARTMENT OF THE RATNAPURA DISTRICT.” Nothing to do with North East!!! Perennial affliction all over the country – because these monkeys think they have untrammelled POWER TO "SHAKE" EVERYONE AND ANYONE!!!??? 'SHOOT AND THEN FIND WRONG HAS BEEN COMMITTED' THEREAFTER – absent minded, acting without forethought – OR BETTER ACTING WITH UTTER MALICE – then COVERUP SEEKING VOTES nearing Elections!!!??? Utilising maximum Leverage on Humble, Harmless, uneducated and Innocent Rural Folk!!!???

Anura Jayantha Saturday, 25 November 2023 03:19 PM

We know pohotuwa has initiated many things but no end results..this is just another move probably to fool the poor masses and get a vote!

Tissa Fernando Saturday, 25 November 2023 07:34 PM

How do you establish if these were actually owned by people there .

Ragu Saturday, 25 November 2023 09:09 PM

Once land returned, owners should sew the Forest and wild life department for compensation for forcefully confiscating their lands and for pain and anxiety caused to them all these years. In the western world one can sew for such actions.So why not in Sri Lanka to maintain discipline and law and order and standards.

Rasan ex gramma sevaka now living abroad Saturday, 25 November 2023 10:20 PM

@- Tissa Fernando - don’t be childish. Don’t you own any lands? What make you to say it’s yours? Here are some factors for you: 1) If you have the deeds including dowry deeds, 2) If you pay council tax 3) If you have cultivated the land the agriculture department will have documents to say you have done so 4) one might have obtained a loan from the bank giving the address, 5) loan for cultivation, 6) Prescriptive rights 7) Neighbours confirming your presence in the land 8) a responsible government servant, gramma sevaka, district secretary vouching to your ownership ,9) Any remnants of a building including foundation stones, trees planted such as presence of productive trees like coconut, jak, palmyra, mango, moringa, lemon, etc confirming by the owner it was carried out by him.10) owners word of mouth will have to be respected if no one else contest it.

Man Sunday, 26 November 2023 07:12 AM

Why can't they be given alternative lands saving forests, if they got deeds to prove as the value, too is high since away from forests? Clay pot madam doesn't know to protect fauna and flora in SL though a cabinet minister like that Kehel.

Bonny Sunday, 26 November 2023 06:12 PM

She has surfaced again, able to do nothing

Jaffna resident Sunday, 26 November 2023 09:05 PM

Land laws have to be amended to say that only those who holds deeds and got them registered at land registry etc as rightful owners. We still struggle with blatant encroachments and court of law dragging cases even when we hold the deeds. Spending lakhs for unscrupulous lawyers and months of postponed dates by the courts. Time to stop this sufferings by genuine land owners

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Initiatives launched to return lands acquired by Forest, Wildlife Departments

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