SRI LANKA COUNTRY PROFILE

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CP2002-SRI LANKA PAGE 27 Of 106
CHAPTER 10: INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND
RESOURCES
Decision-Making: There are several ministries involved, ministries of: Land Development; Environment and
Natural Resources; and Agriculture are the leading agencies on this issue. The guidance in managing the land
resources coming under the jurisdiction of a ministry is provided by the ministry in the form of policy formulation
and plan preparation. At the national level policies and plans are translated into action by the relevant line
departments and agencies. At the sub-national level the management of lands is in the hands of the Provincial
Councils. In each province the Provincial Land Commissioner under the Provincial Minister of Lands is responsible
for the administration, protection, alienation and development of lands within the province guided by the main Acts
and Ordinances pertaining to the administration of land. In the past most policies and programmes pertaining to
land resources management have been determined by the state Sector but in recent years efforts have been made to
suit with other stakeholders such as NGOs, the private sector, academics and land users and associate them in the
process.
Programmes and Projects: During the last ten years several policies have been formula ted, plans prepared and
projects started to plan and manage land resources. The policies include: the Natural Forestry Policy (1995);
Natural Policy Framework of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry (1995); and the National
Water Resources Policy (2000). The plans include: the Natural Environmental Action Plan (1994, 1995 and 1998);
the Forestry Sector Master Plan (1995); the Coastal Zone Management Plan (1997); the Bio-diversity Action Plan
(1998); and the Natural Disaster Management Plan (1999). The policies spelt out the government’s intentions
regarding the management of natural resources while the plans identified the management issues in each sector and
provided a long terms development framework for the different sectors. Recent projects undertaken include:
Landslide Hazard Mapping Project (1990); shared Control of Natural Resources Project (SCOR) 1992; and, Otimal
Land Use in Sri Lanka with particular applications to Land Degradation and the Plantation Industries (1994).
Environmental Action I project (1996), and he upper Watershed Management Project (1997). The major objectives
of these projects have been to reforest and stabilize denuded watersheds, protection of critical watersheds and the
promotion of economically viable and ecologically sustainable farming systems. Steps have also been taken to
guide the management of land resources in the future. A Land Use Policy has been prepared to: lead to the
protection, conservation and sustainable use of the land resources of the country; generate a pattern of land use that
will best meet the needs of the present generation while safeguarding resources for future generations; and provide
a framework that would guide the development of land resources along a desired path. A draft National
Environmental Policy and strategy has also been prepared with the general objective of achieving ecologically
sustainable development by protecting the integrity of the nation's environment and national resources base with
due recognition of the contributio n of natural resources to economic development and to the reality of life. A
specific objective is to manage land resources to maintain and enhance their quality productively and life
supporting capacity to protect their ability to support a variety of land use options.
Status: Efforts are being made to remove certain impediments to the efficient management of land resources. The
Title Registration Act passed in 1998 with provisions for the Investigation and Registration of Title to the land and
for the regulation of transactions relating to land so registered is being implemented. The registration of title is
expected to streamline land transactions in the country thereby leading to the better management of land resources.
The government has also decided to remove tenure restrictions on alienated state land by granting freehold status to
persons who have received state land under the Land Development Ordinance and Land Grants Special Provisions
Law. It is expected that the removal of the restrictions would available the optimum use of land leading to increased
productivity incomes, employment and the development of a vibrant land market. Inter-sectoral coordination
between agencies managing land resources is being promoted by appointing committees on Environment Policy
and Management (CEPOMS). The CEPOM is expected to strengthen the cooperation and coordination amongst
public and private sector agencies (including N.G.O.S) implementing plans and programmes. Despite the capacity-