Lanka land 'becoming scarcer'

--BBC--

By Gnanasiri Koththigoda BBC Sinhala service

	The survey was carried out in 18 districts including war affected areas

A survey has found that seventy per cent of the people in Sri Lanka are facing problems associated to land related issues.

The survey conducted by the Praja Abhilasha and People to People Dialogue on Peace and Sustainable Development Network say land is becoming scarcer and is also the most important burning issue in Sri Lanka.

The survey was carried out in eighteen districts including war affected areas.

State policy making, natural and man-made disasters, and war have been identified as the main causes for the land related issues.

"We have learned of and experienced the struggles people have faced and continue to face within these land issues, including those still affected by the 2004 tsunami" the report said.

Every household

At a meeting held at the Land Commissioner’s office last week, deputy land commissioner Hapuhinna said almost every household in Sri Lanka is embroiled with some sort of land related problem.

Representatives from different areas of the country detailed their problems at the meeting.

“The plantation workers do not have any right to land where they live,” a representative from the plantation sector said.

Government has decided to allocate 20 perches to IDP families, say activists

“We have nowhere to cultivate as authorities have declared a sanctuary in Thabbova farmland,” a woman said.

The report says that there are people in every district who are facing problems regarding ownership of land, who are affected by other natural disasters such as sea erosion, those affected through development activities and those affected with the problem of wild elephants.

The study reveals some of the problems are related with unprecedented natural disasters but many problems have risen due to unplanned activities of the responsible authorities or the affected people.

It was revealed that the absence of strengthened civil organisations and lack of awareness about laws and regulations were the major reasons for the difficulties to find sustainable and favourable solutions for many of the problems Survey report

"It is observed that the affected parties have taken several steps to overcome the problems, although the efforts are in ad-hoc nature. It was revealed that the absence of strengthened civil organisations and lack of awareness about laws and regulations were the major reasons for the difficulties to find sustainable and favourable solutions for many of the problems", the report further said.

Herman Kumara, convenor of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, told BBC Sandeshaya that the displaced people from the north are to be allocated 20 perches by the government.

“The question is if all these 300,000 people are to be allocated only 20 perches, what happens to the other land? Won’t it, the land issue, be more complex if this policy is implemented?” he questioned.

The study says that the problems are still aggravating the communities and the affected people are continuously suffering by having to adapt to the situation.