Land as a national and moral resource for development, progress and empowerment D.P.S. Chandrakumara, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka Conference on “Leadership, Land and Local Resource Management at the eve of the MDG deadline of 2015” June 2013, at Ecoashram, Doiwala, Dehradun

Background-Types of land ownership State ownership Land grants; to schools, orphanages, etc. Collective and communal ownership Private ownership of land: small holdings, large holdings, etc. Occupational tenancy Tenancy: cash tenancy, share tenancy

Background – Sri Lanka Total land area in Sri Lanka (the size of the Country) km 2 land: 64,630 sq km water: 980 sq km population (2011) mn. Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower Agriculture: Plantation, paddy and subsidiary food crops, minor export crops

Background - constitution The Sri Lankan Constitution does guarantee to all citizens the freedom of movement and of choosing one’s residence within Sri Lanka.

Importance of Land Land is the livelihood of the majority of rural people. People become inhabitants, neighbors or members of organizations depending on their land ownership. Food security basically depends on access to land. Land is major in development programs. Availability of land ensures the use of other resources such as labor and capital.

Per capita extent of land YearPopulationPer capita extent of land mn2.18 ha mn0.29 ha mn0.22 ha

Utilization of land Land-use categoryExtent (ha)% 1 Agriculture2,605, Urban areas29, Forests, wildlife, reserves and catchment areas 2,000, Underutilized lands728, Reservations (reservoirs, streams and irrigated channels) 585, Steeply sloping lands, unsuitable for agriculture 380, Barren lands77, Highlands over 5000 ft (1600m) above mean sea level 76, Mangroves and Marsh lands70, Total6,552,

District No. of Landless Agricultural Operators Colombo1421 Gamphaha4159 Kalutara3152 Kandy5038 Matale4060 Nuwaraeliya4681 Galle4480 Matara6879 Hambantota9438 Jaffna2015 Kilinochchi1677 Mannar1159 Vavunia946 Mulaitive3026

Baticaloa997 Ampara6698 Trincomalee2266 Kurunegala puttalum Anuradhapura7502 Polonnaruwa18223 Badulla5620 Monaragala7199 Rathnapura8993 Kegalle12105 Total3544 Continued…

Deputy Land commissioners division Total encroachments Anuradhapura6355 Polonnaruwa7594 Debarawewa 9Hambantota district) 3180 Ampara8820 Trincomalee3401 Kantale1495 Mahiyanganaya5049 Monaragala838 Total36732

Goal-Land Use Policy Rational utilization of lands as a resource, in the national interest, in order to ensure food security, a high quality of life, equity and ecological sustainability.

Policy objectives Prioritize agriculturally oriented uses relevant to the strengthening of national economy in order to ensure present and future food security. Expand the role of the state in matters related to lands i.e. in addition to the allocation of land, provide guidance for the productive utilization of the land resources. Prevent the under use and improper use of lands. Promote the capability of the land as a source of generating employment. Rational allocation of land for different purposes and promotion of land suitability evaluation. Protect, conserve and manage all sources of water on state as well as private lands.

Bring about a rational distribution of population and settlement in order to achieve a balanced regional development and orderly economic growth. Minimize fragmentation of agricultural lands. Prevention of encroachment of lands. Introduce effective tenurial reforms to promote the efficient use of land resources. Take steps to minimize the vulnerability of land to natural and human induced hazards. Promote land uses that minimize environmental hazard. Promote gender equity in the ownership, utilization and conservation of lands. Conserve bio-diversity. Conserve soil & water Preserve historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic values associated with lands. Continued…

Policies Land use plans will be prepared at the National, Provincial, District, Divisional, and Local levels. Land utilization will be based on these plans. Zonal plans will be prepared to demarcate the suitable areas for settlement, agriculture and different development activities. Allocation of lands by the state to the people will be based on land suitability evaluation. Peoples’ participation in the sustainable use of land resources will be enhanced. Institutions providing services / facilities for land use will be strengthened so as to provide the people, with a better service. The diverse land laws prevalent at present will be reviewed and a new legal framework relevant for land use planning will be introduced.

Land vested in state authorities, which are either under utilized or unutilized will be made available for proper development purposes. Areas of cultural, archeological, historical, and aesthetic values will be protected. Conversion of good agricultural lands for non-agricultural uses in urban fringe areas will be discouraged. In order to promote regional development, urban settlement programs as well as rural settlement programs will be formulated and implemented A Land Information Centre (LIC) will be established at the National level and maintained to facilitate exchange of information on land development and management. Action will be taken to minimize the fragmentation of agricultural lands. Action will be taken to rehabilitate degraded lands. Continued…

Action will be taken to avoid land uses that constrain sustainable development of Sri Lanka. Steps will be taken to prevent encroachments on state lands. Awareness and educational programs on proper and scientific land use will be implemented. Continued…

Lack of an integrated approach towards land Existence of a large number of decision making institutions The Alternative Energy Division of the Ministry of Science and Technology The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources The Ministry of Plantation Industries The Ministry of Mahaweli and River Basin Development and Rajarata Development The National Physical Planning Department of the Ministry of Western Regional Development complicated legal system overlapping policies

Trends related to land Arable land area has been expanded through irrigation projects. Productivity of land has been increased through new mechanical and bio-chemical inputs. Resettling people in newly irrigated areas. Fragmentation of land.

Factors affecting landlessness In Sri Lanka, 27% of peasants are deemed to be landless (Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2005). Land use policy has not been well-developed. No integrated body or method to take decisions on land (different institutions are involved in decision making) Scarcity of off-farm employment

Landlessness Low income Low living standard Low level of education Marginalization/exclusion No permanent house Household food insecurity Malnutrition Environmental damages Hiring child labor, etc. Increase in land ownership Increase in income Increase in living standard Increase in education Inclusion Permanent house Household food security Higher nutritious level Environmental friendly Not hiring child labor, etc. The Power of Land Ownership Land can be used for raising the wellbeing of people

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