President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held discussions with the Circular Revision Committee appointed to review and update circulars issued under the State Lands Ordinance and the Land Development Ordinance at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (16).
The Committee has been tasked with recommending the cancellation of outdated circulars, the revision of existing directives, and the introduction of new circulars to ensure that land administration policies are aligned with present-day requirements.
Chaired by Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, the Committee comprises representatives from the Presidential Secretariat, Attorney General’s Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Department of Valuation, Mahaweli Authority, provincial land administration bodies, and other relevant institutions. The Commissioner General of Lands serves as the Committee’s convener.
The Committee’s mandate includes establishing a more reliable, uniform, and streamlined land taxation framework within the existing legal system while ensuring optimal state revenue without adversely affecting lessees. This involves reviewing annual lease rentals for long-term leases and land grants, updating existing circulars, and formulating new provisions where necessary.
During the meeting, members presented and discussed proposals prepared by the expert committee regarding the revision of current land-related circulars.
President Dissanayake stressed the need for a modern and practical policy framework to address the underutilisation of state-owned lands and ensure that such lands are used more efficiently to support economic development and national priorities.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, senior legal and government officials, members of the Circular Revision Committee, and representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation.