Steps will be taken to resolve the land ownership issues of all the people residing in the North within the next two months, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena announced.
The Prime Minister gave the assurance while replying to the issue raised in Parliament today (Jan 10) by MP Charles Nirmalanathan.
MP Nirmalanathan questioned whether necessary steps can be taken to provide deeds of lands and government welfare schemes to permanent residents under the Middle-Class Land Program.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the government has already started discussions in this regard.
Stating that District Coordinating Committee Chairmen are working on the issue, he further said that they will identify the illegal residents, find out the possibility of permitting them to live in those lands, and issue certificates of occupancy on the lands to them.
It was possible to reach an agreement between the squatters and the original owners of some lands, but in places where such an agreement could not be reached, the granting of land rights was delayed, he explained.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government has taken steps to speed up the program to confirm the land rights of the people of the North by giving priority to the land deed program announced by the President in the budget, and the people who are engaged in farming or residing will not be evicted based on illegal occupation.
Prime Minister Gunawardena also said that the government is obliged to provide the necessary welfare or assistance to all the residents, whether legal occupants or not.
He added that all those engaged in farming, fishing or other fields will be given the subsidies and welfare services they deserve and if there are any deficiencies in the program, they can submit complaints to the district coordination committees. (NewsWire)
