In accordance with the government's policy of 'A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life', the inaugural ceremony for distributing ‘Himikama’ land ownership deeds begins in Kilinochchi.

In accordance with the government's policy of 'A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life', the inaugural ceremony for distributing ‘Himikama’ land ownership deeds was held 13/08/2025 under the leadership of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Mr. K.D. Lalkantha, at the main hall of Palei Central College in Kilinochchi District.

The three institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation - the Department of the Commissioner General of Lands, the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, and the Land Reform Commission - are scheduled to jointly issue 50,000 permits and deeds during this year. Not only during this year, but the ownership program will be rapidly implemented in the coming years as well. Accordingly, under the ‘Himikama” program, deeds will be provided for residential land, cultivated land, land used for business, and land for investment.

Currently, approximately one hundred thousand people residing on land belonging to the Land Reform Commission still have not received ownership rights to the land. Settlers who have been living for years on land owned by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority do not have any documents confirming their land ownership rights. Those who cultivate on government lands also do not have ownership rights. The process of issuing land deeds, which has been slow until now, can be expedited through the ‘Himikama’ program.

Steps have been taken through the ‘Himikama’ program to issue Transfer deeds for lands under the Land Reform Commission. People residing on land owned by the Land Reform Commission can request to obtain a Transfer deed by filling out and submitting the relevant application form at the district office of the Land Reform Commission. For this, the government assessed value must be paid. Money must also be paid for surveying. The Land Reform Commission requests the public to refrain from making payments without receiving a receipt. No other money is charged by the government in this regard. The government will take action in the future to provide vacant lands under the Land Reform Commission to investors.

The Department of the Commissioner General of Lands provides land on lease for residential, commercial, and agricultural purposes under the State Lands Ordinance. It issues land grants and permits for residential and agricultural purposes under the Land Development Ordinance. Preparations have now been made to commence this program in September in the Badulla District of the Uva Province. The target of the Department of the Commissioner General of Lands is to provide 18,000 land grants, permits, and lease deeds during this year. The Department of the Commissioner General of Lands expects to achieve an even higher target in the year 2026.

The Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority carries out land allocation activities according to the Mahaweli Land Act and the State Lands Ordinance. At present, the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has completed the release of approximately 340,000 plots of land to land beneficiaries. These are for homestead land, irrigated land, commercial activities, and other investment purposes. In addition, land has been released for places of worship such as temples, shrines, and kovils, and for government activities. Out of the 340,000 plots of land, permits and long-term leases have been provided for 230,000 plots. Action has been taken to provide the remainder in the future. Of the 50,000 land grants being issued today, 25,000 will be provided through the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority. The ‘Himikama’ program is scheduled to be implemented in 10 Mahaweli areas. Grants, long-term leases, permits, and religious land deeds (Pooja Bhumi Oppu) will be provided through this program. A process for formalizing settlers who have no ownership rights or documents within the Mahaweli area is scheduled to be implemented in the future.

Joining this occasion, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Mr. K.D. Lalkantha, expressed his views.

The President entrusted us with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. This is a large ministry. There is a large workload to be done within this. The President entrusted us with the responsibility of doing everything possible through this ministry to eliminate poverty. The most difficult task our ministry has, as well as a task that must necessarily be completed quickly, is resolving the people's land issues. Government lands, lands under the Land Reform Commission, and lands under the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority belong to our ministry. There are lands belonging to other institutions in the country as well. Some lands have been gazetted under Department of Wildlife Conservation. People send us letters and come to tell us that their lands have been taken by wildlife authorities. This government is rapidly implementing the clearing of these issues as well. Complete attention has been focused on this. Some people say that the Department of Forest Conservation has also taken their lands. We have planned programs to quickly resolve these issues as well.

What we are doing here today is providing deeds to those who have been on Land Reform Commission land for a period of time without having any deed. What we are starting today from Kilinochchi is a program being implemented nationally. The land problems in this country have so far been solved only for leaders elected by people’s vote. The land problems of the general public have not been solved. The first government to give priority to solving the problems of the general public instead of solving the problems of politicians is the government of our President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The country has many problems. We have problems that have been piled up for 76 years. Racism, religious extremism, and casteism are the epidemics that our rulers have given us. Similarly, there is poverty and the gap between the haves and have-nots. We are solving these one by one. You have created Sri Lanka's first government that has now completely stopped the theft, fraud, corruption, and waste by politicians.

There is an opinion among the people that when big people do wrong, the law is not enforced. The law is only enforced when ordinary people do wrong. The law is not enforced against the big sharks. The law is only enforced against the small fish. But now you can all clearly see that law enforcement against the big sharks who illegally plunder public property has begun in this Sri Lankan land. When that happens, they all unite together. They say that by uniting like that, they are conspiring to overthrow this government. But that cannot be done. The people stand with our government. That is the only strength we have. Therefore, we fulfill every task for you quickly and tirelessly.

We have correctly built up our political culture. The main problem that exists now is the economic problem. In solving that economic problem, our responsibility is to do well the work that belongs to our ministry.

Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, also expressed his views on this occasion.

Today you are receiving a Transfer deed from the Land Reform Commission. This is an opportunity you have been waiting for a long time. There are millions of people in our country who do not have deeds for their residential land. Providing rights for this is a primary duty of our government. Providing land ownership is being done through the 'Himikama' program. We hope to provide 50,000 land grants and permits during the year 2025. Our goal is to provide deeds to an even greater number in the following year.

The land problem in the Northern Province is very complex. People who traditionally resided on land had to go to another country. Or else, they had to move to reside in another province. Their deeds were burnt or torn apart. Many people in the North have complained that someone else is now residing on land that belonged to them in the past and has made deeds for it. This problem has failed to be resolved over the past several years. Our purpose is to provide lands to the people. Our purpose is not to provide lands to politicians or their cronies. Land has been misused in the past. We hope to provide lands to genuine investors.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Mr. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, also participated on this occasion.