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Devale land to be used for cultivation: Basnayake Nilame
The Basnayake Nilame of the Maha Vishnu Devale and Aluthnuwara has instructed his Vidanes (devale headmen) that 42,000 acres of land under the devale should be utilised for cultivation. He said that the devale would not require a return on the activity. If any difficulty were to arise, the devale would provide assistance to the cultivators, he said.
Basnayake Nilame Mahendra Ratwatte
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Basnayake Nilame Mahendra Ratwatte said that though they have 42,000 acres of land around the Central Province, only about 24,000 persons using this land pay a small amount as tenure tax to the devale: Others avoid paying and some have not paid for years.
He said that whether the tax is paid or not the people using the land should now begin cultivation, and that the devale is not interested in the product which they could sell and earn money. What was important, he stressed, was that tenants should cultivate the land and that no land should be left barren in this time of need.
He had instructed the vidanes to present a summary of all the lands and what had not been cultivated by the beginning of the Aluthnuwara Perahera which is scheduled for next month.
Basnayake Nilame Ratwatte said all land belonging to the devale had to be cultivated immediately. He said most people were using the land without any payment to the coffers of the devale, which received the land as donations from various kings for services rendered.
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