The inaugural ceremony of the national programme to present ‘Himikama’ freehold title deeds to the public will be held in Anuradhapura today (27).
The event will take place at the North Central Provincial Council Auditorium in Korakahawewa, Anuradhapura, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Under the ‘Himikama’ programme, title deeds granting absolute ownership of land will be issued to members of the public—particularly farming communities—who have been developing and utilising land allocated under various permits and schemes.
According to the President’s Media Division Sri Lanka, individuals who received land under the Land Development Ordinance No. 19 of 1935 have faced numerous challenges due to the absence of absolute ownership. These difficulties have arisen especially when using land for personal and development needs, as well as when attempting to develop it as an economic unit.
To address these concerns, the government has made arrangements to remove conditions attached to permits and grants issued under the Land Development Ordinance and to issue freehold title deeds in accordance with Section 2 of the State Lands Ordinance No. 8 of 1947.
Under the programme, ‘Himikama’ freehold title deeds will be granted for permits and grants that are voluntarily handed over to the Government.
A total of 500 ‘Himikama’ freehold title deeds are scheduled to be distributed to beneficiaries in the Anuradhapura District today. The initiative is expected to be expanded to all districts in due course.
The programme is being implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Land and Irrigation Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Department of the Land Commissioner General Sri Lanka.
