News

President instructs amendment of the Land Act to suit current development needs

Published

1 year ago

May 11, 2023

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed the relevant officials to amend the existing ordinances regarding lands to suit the current development needs.

The President also informed to appoint a suitable committee to speed up the work.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued these instructions during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (10) evening, on amending the provisions of the ordinances of land management institutions and introducing new regulations.

Pointing out that the land policies brought during the colonial period are still being implemented in the country, the President also said that the ordinances brought at different times related to land use are not in line with the development needs of the time.

It was also discussed at length about the preparation of a new National Land Policy by removing the existing obstacles in providing land for development activities.

The President instructed the officials to resolve the issues of the lands under the Provincial Councils through a Land Commission.

The President also instructed the officers to identify the details of the land owners in the Grama Niladhari Divisions and the amount of land that is currently utilized and the amount of land that has not been utilized and prepare a report at Divisional Secretariat levels.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed the officers to take steps to redistribute among the public the lands acquired for Government purposes but not yet utilized, and in the future to acquire lands for Government purposes by paying the market value of the respective lands.

In order to avoid the delay in the works of the Survey Department and the Valuation Department, the President also instructed to take steps to fill the vacancies in those departments promptly.Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Mr Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Mr. Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Mr. K.D.N. Ranjith Asoka, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism & Lands Mr. H.M.B.P. Herath, Secretary to the Ministry Of Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation Mrs. R.M.C.M. Herath, Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation U.D.C Jayalal, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthi and other Government officials were present at this discussion.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Ex-ASP Sanjeeva Mahanama granted bail in MP shooting case

Published

1 hour ago

September 14, 2024

editor

Former Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjeeva Mahanama, arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the shooting of former MP Uddika Premarathna, has been granted bail.

Mahanama appeared before the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court on September 13.

He is accused of aiding and abetting the shooting, which took place on September 17, 2023, when Premarathna’s vehicle was attacked in front of his residence on Airport Road, Anuradhapura.

News

SC orders to file contempt charges against Immigration Controller General

Published

10 hours ago

September 13, 2024

editor

The Supreme Court has ordered to file contempt of court charges against the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration for failing to obey the court’s interim order to suspend the implementation of the electronic visa system.

The order was delivered today (13) by a three-member judge bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Achala Wengappuli.

The court also ordered the petitioning party to draft the charges and present it before the court on September 25.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court had directed the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to appear before the court in person today (13) with regard to his failure to implement the order issued by the court over the electronic visa matter.

The directive was issued by the Supreme Court after considering motions filed over the non-implementation of the interim order issued by the court regarding the issue.

On August 02, the Supreme Court issued an interim order suspending the contract given to private consortium IVS-GBS and VFS Global to operate the visa issuance.

The court had issued this order after considering several Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed by a group including opposition MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, Rauff Hakeem and Patali Champika Ranawaka.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

2 more Bills come into effect

Published

10 hours ago

September 13, 2024

editor

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has endorsed the certificate on the Bills titled Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Bill and Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill today (Sep. 13) in accordance with Article 79 of the Constitution.

The said Bills were passed after the second reading debate held in Parliament on 03rd September.

The Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Bill is to make provision for the Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement in Sri Lanka of Judgments of Courts of other countries, to repeal the Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Ordinance (Chapter 93) and the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Ordinance (Chapter 94) and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Accordingly, this Bill shall be known as the Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Act No. 49 of 2024.

In addition, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill is to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979. Accordingly, this Bill shall be known as the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act No. 50 of 2024.