Government incurs heavy losses in state land lease deals
The Sri Lanka government is incurring losses amounting to millions of rupees in the recovery of state land lease payments as a result of weak land administration, the Auditor General’s latest inspection report revealed.
Leasing of lands has not been properly managed although the regularly approval of the Cabinet of Ministers had to be obtained in leasing of lands for projects where the extent of the land is over five acres.
According to the report, 50 acres of Maddey Gedharawatta in Kalutara District had given on lease for the agricultural activities by the Council of the Land Commission without the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Only the basic estimated amount had been collected for that while the government assessment lease amount had not been collected.
Granite lands situated in 22 acres which belongs to the estates of Olabotuwa, Yahalakelle and Ingiriya belonging to the Land Reform Commission had been leased in 2001, 2004 and 2005 without lease agreements.
Also, a granite stone situated in a 10 acres land belonging to the estate of Horaekanda at Milleniya had been excavated without permission from 2003 up to 2018.
A total of 173 acres in the Puttalam District had been given without permission on lease basis to cultivate prawns.
A land register had not been updated relating to the lands acquired by the Land Reform Commission from the date of establishment of the Commission.
All details such as number of acres of that lands, area of each land, from whom it had been acquired, details on the assign of possession at present, relevant notice published in the Gazette and disposal of lands were not available at present.