Courtesy The Island

Environmental organizations urge thegovernment to reform the Land Development Act as it is misused by affluent and powerful politicians to acquire vast extents of land illegally.

Sajeewa Chamikara of Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) said that the present law should be amended to prevent such rackets.

Chamikara said: “The Land Acquisition Act too should be amended. Under this Act the decisions to acquire land and issue orders to that effect are vested in the State Ministers and the aggrieved party cannot file a court case against the Minister. The law should be amended to provide an opportunity for victimised parties to appeal.”

The law should also be reformed to ensure the rights and plights of the war-displaced people, people displaced as a result of development projects, etc.

It should cover how usage needs of a land is utilized, the manner in which it is developed, duration of occupation, commercial value of the land, cultural and social significance of the land, compensation for those who lose their properties due to development projects, impact assessment of the new places of residence and on the infrastructural development.