A special program to map all lands in the future
A discussion on the mapping of all lands was held yesterday (04th) at the Survey Department, under the patronage of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha. The land mapping program is being implemented to properly manage all lands in Sri Lanka. Under this, it will be possible to obtain a complete picture of land-related information from a single location, assist in resolving land disputes, make it easier for officials to carry out their duties, and keep up to date with new technology. The initial phase of the land mapping program was launched from the Monaragala District, and it is currently operating successfully.
Joining the occasion, the Surveyor General stated that there are 16 million land parcels in Sri Lanka. She further mentioned that the land mapping program must be implemented swiftly in order to properly manage all lands within Sri Lanka.
The Secretary of the Ministry stated that though foreign investors come to acquire land for various investments, those valuable opportunities are missed due to the institution not having accurate information about the available lands.
Attending the event, the Minister, expressed his views.
“Our public officers are talented. In order to harness that talent for the country, a suitable social, cultural, and political environment must be created within the country.
Under this project, we can observe the capabilities of our officials. The dedication and pursuit of goals that drives their work must be spread across the entire country. To work happily, the necessary environment is needed. Even those who wander the streets talk about the good things they have done. They speak about those things with joy.
Our ministry is a combination of five ministries. Previously, these five ministries had five secretaries. Think about how great a sacrifice it is for one secretary to handle the work of five ministries? No special allowance is received for that. Our public officials are capable of doing such a work load.
One problem I faced after taking over this Ministry is that some people come to invest in our country’s economy. Among them are both local and foreign investors. They ask for lands. As a minister, I cannot show them a piece of land. I had to tell some of them to find a land by yourself, if possible, and then we will develop that land for the project. Then consider where we stand as a country. This did not happen by accident. This is the only way that plunderers can plunder. Once these lands are measured and put in order, no individual will be able to plunder them.
With this project, we can move toward the answers we need. That is why this matter is important to me. Everyone has the desire to develop. That is also important for the country’s economy. For that purpose, land is an essential factor. We must start this project quickly. Various problems will arise along the way. Let us find answers to those problems and move forward. The ongoing Iran war, when it ends, will bring something positive to the world. The First World War ended by bringing many positive answers to the world. To find new answers, the country needs public officials like these. We must give respect to public servants. Let us all come together and take this forward.”
Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Aravinda Senarath Vitarana and officials of the Survey Department participated in this event.
