Divisional Secretariat - Badulla

Disposal of lands under the State Land Ordinance

Under this Ordinance, functions relating to the purposes and extent of State lands issued to the citizens and organizations are performed.

Disposal of lands under the Land Development Ordinance

Functions of issuing lands to people belonging to the farmers’ class, low income groups, higher income groups and educated youth for agricultural or residential or for both of these purposes are carried out through this Ordinance. Lands are not issued for any other purposes under this Ordinance.

Disposal of lands under the Land Grant (Special Provisions) Act.

Lands are disposed under this Act, through Instruments of Dispositions.
Under the land Reform Act, lands belonging to the Lands Reform Commission are issued to people belonging to the farmers’ class for agricultural or residential or for both of these purposes. Lands are not issued for any other purpose whatsoever, under this Act.
Issue of Lawful ownership documents for disposed State Lands.

Issue of Ranbima Grants

This is issued only to the members of the Farmers’ Class under Section 19(4) of the Land Development Ordinance. Recipients of the lands are selected through Land Kachcheries. Here there is a system of allocating marks according to the annual income. A Service Charge of Rs.100/= is charged for the preparation of Deed. This Deed could be transferred and mortgaged after obtaining the prior permission of the Divisional Secretary concerned. Transfer could be done only among members belonging to the particular income group.

Instrument of Disposition

These Grants are issued to those persons who have been selected under the Lands Grants (Special Provisions) Act No:43 of 1973. The land should have been well developed to receive this Grant. No service charge is levied for this Grant. The process of preparing this Grant is same as Ranbima Grant

Middle Class Grants

Under the Land Development Ordinance, these Grants are issued in respect of lands given to people belonging to higher income group. Under this scheme, lands with more than 5 acres in extent have been given. These Grants could be received only after having completely paid all due charges to the State and after having developed the land well.

Free Grants under the Land Redemption Ordinance

This Grant is issued under the Land Redemption Ordinance. This could be obtained as a free Grant without any conditions, after the owner or heirs paying to the State the money and the interest thereof incurred by the State in acquiring the Land.

Issue of Long Term Lease Permit

Lease Permit is issued under the State Land Ordinance No: 8 of 1947. Long Term Lease for a period of 30 years is issued for individuals and institutions for the purpose of Residence, Agriculture and Commerce. The lease period could be extended up to 50 years in case of special projects. If the original period of lease was successfully maintained, lease period could be extended. This Permit could be transferred or mortgaged after obtaining prior permission from the Land Commissioner General.

Issue of Grants under State Land Ordinance

After considering the successful operation of the lease for residential purpose, Grants could be issued after recovering the undeveloped value of the land. After issuing this Grant, the full ownership of the land rests with the lessee.

Special Grants under State Land Ordinance

For Special reasons, Grants could be issued after obtaining the approval of His Excellency the President. No money is charged. Issue of lands to different State Organizations for special social service oriented projects and issue of alternate lands in lieu of acquired private lands by the State where compensation was not paid, are examples of such Special Grants.

Issue of Pooja Deed under State Land Ordinance

This is issued for Vihares. In the first instance a Primary Lease Bond is issued for the Board of Trustees. Later a releasing Grant is issued in favour of the Viharadhipathi and disciples in succession.

Vesting Orders under State Land Ordinance

Lands are transferred to the three armed forces and Local Government Institutions. Vesting Orders have to be prepared for this purpose.
Releasing of Land (Releasing Certificates) under State Land Ordinance

A releasing certificate is issued for the lands released for Government Departments.

Collection and Accounting of Land Revenue

Revenue on lease rentals due on various permits issued under different Acts and Ordinances to lands coming under the Inter Provincial Irrigation and Development Projects are collected and appropriately accounted. Accordingly annual revenue estimates are prepared. Legal actions are taken against those who evade payments due on leases and collections of lease rental with arrears are ensured. Also opportunities for effecting new leases are explored and executed.

Holding of Mobile Services

With the view of minimizing problems related to lands under the concept of social service analysis, mobile day services are held to identify and provide solutions to problems of land in the colonies. Such Meeting of the people “Janahamuwa” programmes are held  at Divisional Secretary Division Level Here problems identified at the Divisional Secretary Division Level.

Documents Required for Transferring a Grant Land Given Under The Land Development Statute

1. Letter of request of the grant holder
2. The original and a photo copy of the grant
3. Folio report obtained within three months
4. Letter of consent of the spouse and the children over 18 years old of the grant holder
5. Grama Niladhari Certificate indicating that the grant holder or family unit shall not become rendered helpless after transferring the land
6. Folio report of another land owned by the grant holder
7. The birth certificate of the transferee and birth, marriage, death certificates to prove the kinship as relevant

Obtaining The Pre Inheritance Of a Grant Land Given Under The Land Development

1. Letter of request of the person seeking the pre inheritance
2. The original and a photo copy of grant
3. Folio report obtained within three months
4. Death Certificate of the grant holder
5. Birth certificate of the person seeking the pre inheritance
6. death certificate of the spouse of the grant holder, if the pre inheritance is requested by a child / marriage certificate of the grant holder, if the pre inheritance is requested by the spouse

Obtainning The Life Interest Of a Grant Land Given Under The Land Development Ordinance

1. Letter of request of the person seeking the life interest
2. The original and a photo copy of grant
3. Folio report obtained within three months
4. Death Certificate of the grant holder
5. Birth and marriage certificate of the person seeking the life interest

Offeerinf a Grant Land As a Bond Under The Land Development Ordinance

1. Letter of request of the grant holder
2. The original and a photo copy of grant
3. Folio report obtained within three months
4. A letter from the institution at which the bond is executed (An institution approved by the head of the Central Bank )

Long Term Lease -Process Manual

• Procedure of Long Term Leasing

1. 01. To obtain the relevant reports for submission to the recommendation of Provincial Land Commissioner according to the list of the applicants recommended for providing deeds under Long Term lease by a scattered land Kachcheri

1. I. The letter of request of the applicant

1. II. Condition report (, the report should be obtained according to the annex No.1 in 04 copies from the Grama Nildhari Division to which the plot of land belongs to)

1. III. Tracing (a survey order should be sent to the Kachcheri Surveyor of the Provincial Land Commissioner’s Department after having obtaining the number from the Survey Order Register using the format mentioned in annex 2 )

1. IV. Concurrence of the local government institution (Concurrence of the Municipal Council has to be obtained if the land is situated within the Municipal limit, or of the Pradeshiya Sabha, if the land is situated in Pradeshiya Sabha limit)

1. V. Appendix No. 19 (annex No.3 )

1. VI. Appendix No. 17 (annex No.4 )

1. VII. An affidavit ensuring payment of taxes (Annex No.5)

1. VIII. Notification el 21 (2) (Annex No. 6)

2. 02. Submitting all the documents indicated above in three copies to the Provincial Land Commissioner. All documents should be correctly perfected.
3. 03. The Provincial Land Commissioner must submit the above document to the Commissioner General of Land, and after having obtained the approval to issue of land under long term lease, the Divisional Secretary must be notified thereto.
4. 04. According to the letter of approval the Commissioner General of Lands

I for obtaining the plan, a survey order through G.A.F( ආ.ඒ.අ.) 8 format (annex 7)should be submitted to the Superintendent of Survey, in two copies. Copies of the covering letter should be forwarded to the Commissioner General of Lands, Provincial Land Commissioner, and to the lessee

N.B: A certified copy of the letter of approval should be sent to the Commissioner General of Lands

1. To inform the lessee to pay the relevent charges to prepare the plan when intimation is received thereto from the District Surveyor

1. After obtaining the plan

Sending a request to the Chief Valuver to obtain a tax report for the relevant year in which lease is approved as indicated in the letter of Commissioner General of lands. Copies of the covering letter should be forwarded to the Commissioner General of Lands, Provincial Land Commissioner, and to the lessee

N.B : A certified copy of the letter of approval should be sent to the Commissioner General of Land

1. iv. To obtain the lease tracings, two copies on G.A.F 118 (ආ.ඒ.අ.118) format should be submitted to the District Superintendent of Survey .one copy should be submitted to Commissioner General of Lands

N.B : A certified copy of the letter of approval should be sent to the Commissioner General of Lands

v.. To inform the lessee to pay the relevant survey charges to prepare the lease tracing when intimation

is received thereto from the District Superintendant of Survey.

1. vi. After obtaining the tax report-

According to the letter of the Commissioner General of Land, calculating the tax from the year of approval of the land for leasing upto the present year of calculating of the relevant annual rent charges and term charges/fine payments and submitting it for the colony officer for corrections and later send for the approval of the Divisional Secretary.

1. When approval is given, to inform the lessee to pay the tax charges as per lease agreement. (An example is attached as annex No.9) A copy should be sent to the Grama Niladhari

1. To file a certified copy of the receipt in the Long Term Lease File upon paying the tax

1. Inform the Grama Niladhari to hand over the undisputed possession of the land by annex No. 10 after having paid tax.

1. x. After handing over the possession, inform the Commissioner General of Lands through the Provincial Land Commissioner the date of handing over of the undisputed possession of the land with a certified copy of the valuation report and a certified copy of the receipt on tax payment
2. xi. To file the letter of the District Superintendant of Survey in the file which informs the lease diagram has been sent to the Commissioner General of Land. The Lease Diagram number in this is really important.

1. When the Commissioner General of Lands send the draft of the deed of lease with four copies for revision, check the correctness of the deed of lease and call the lessee and get his signature in the relevant places of the copy of the deed of lease, inserting the National Identity Card Number and its date of issue, with signatures of two witnesses and refer it back to the Commissioner General of Lands with the official seal

1. After receiving the deed of lease, register it in the Registrar Office and the original copy should be given to the lessee. Duplicate copy of it should be filed in the Deed of Lease File. Certified copy of the deed of lease should be forwarded to the Provincial Land Commissioner and one should be in the file which is maintained under the name of the lessee.

1. Ledger copy prepared according the Circular No 96/05 of the Commissioner General of Lands should be annexed to the File of Ledger copies.

1. Lessee should be informed in writing, one month prior to the date of paying the tax as ordered in the deed of lease

1. A certified copy of the tax payment receipt should be attached in the file maintained under the name of the lessee

1. To enter the details of the tax paid in the relevant ledger folio, with the signatures of the subject clerk and the staff officer.

1. Name of the tax payer should be included in the register after paying the tax

1. The amount of tax monthly received should be informed to the Commissioner General of Lands

1. The Circular No 96/05 of the Commissioner General of Lands related to recovery of taxes should be studied well and take action accordingly.

Government officers for land affairs:

Divisional Secretary

Additional Divisional Scretary

Colonization Officer

Grama Niladhari