The Land Commissioner’s Department of Western Province has been established to perform the constitutional function of managing and administering state lands in the province in accordance with the land powers vested in the Western Province Provincial Council as per the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
The Department contributes its utmost to the disposal of state lands located in the Western Province (which consists of the three districts of Gampaha, Colombo and Kalutara and 40 Divisional Secretariat Divisions) and to the conducting of follow-up activities of disposed state lands and carrying out related duties, to the qualitative and efficient performing of monitoring affairs within the legal scope of the Department that relates to tax revenue collection from the disposed state lands also, the affairs related to increasing tax revenue from state lands. When dealing with land issues, legal provisions and land issues brought up by the client public, the department strives to provide more public-friendly service in a practical and humanely balanced manner regarding the subject of land, which is a very complex and sensitive issue connected to the life of the Sri Lankan people.
The Department of the Provincial Commissioner of Land, together with the Divisional Secretaries of the province guides and reviews Land Officers who have been attached to the Divisional Secretariats including all the Field Officers; provides its contribution to increase the revenue receivable to the government from the Provincial Land Commissioner’s Department by collecting tax revenue and outstanding tax revenue receivable from state lands and by identifying new revenue opportunities.
The Provincial Land Commissioner’s Department also contributes to the quality of public service provided through the Divisional Secretaries, by providing technical assistance to the Divisional Secretaries in resolving the land issues of the people and in conducting relevant mobile services, land kachcheris, field inspections related to land issues etc., and, by conducting training programs for officers of the Divisional Secretariats through the Department’s expert officers on the subject of state lands, etc.
In order to further expand the capacity of the Divisional Secretariats to provide highly efficient and quality service to the public, the Department is contributing optimally towards a satisfactory public service by providing the necessary facilities, including computers and technical equipment, to the land sections of the Divisional Secretariats.
It is the objective of our department to make a significant contribution to the realization of the concept of a future developed Sri Lanka; “A prosperous country – a beautiful life”, by performing all these tasks efficiently, qualitatively and in a humane manner and in accordance with the law.
By providing infrastructure facilities related to the relevant state lands, the department makes a major contribution to improve the living conditions of the people residing in disposed state lands and to maintain state lands sustainably by developing and conserving them.
Vision
Sustainable Government Land Management – a Developed Prosperous Country
Mission
To contribute majorly for sustainable land management by contribution of efficient and transparent disposal of state lands, improving the living standards of people residing in state lands, land development and conservation, increasing state land tax revenue significantly, providing legal and advisory services in land management to pave way for a future developed country.
Functions
- Carrying out activities related to land kachcheri.
- Carrying out activities related to delivery of licenses issued under the Land Development Ordinance.
- Carrying out activities related to preparation of New Grants under the Land Development Ordinance and performing duties related to the subsequent activities of the licenses issued.
- Carrying out duties related to the subsequent activities of Grants.
- Carrying out activities related to preparing of New Prescribed Instruments.
- Carrying out subsequent activities related to the Prescribed Instruments that have been prepared.
- Carrying out subsequent activities related to Middle-Income Class Grant Deeds.
- Carrying out duties related to disposing of government lands on long-term lease.
- Carrying out activities related to issuing of annual lease permits.
- Carrying out duties related to issuing of Freehold Grant Deeds.
- Carrying out activities related to preparation of the War Heroes Grant Deeds.
- Performing duties related to Grant Deed for Religious Purposes /Initial Lease Rent for sacred sites.
- Performing duties related to the preparation of tsunami grant
- Performing duties related to preparation of Heritable Grant Deeds/ Title Grant Deeds.
- Performing duties related to resolving land issues and conducting mobile services related to levying of taxes on state lands.
- Performing survey work related to state lands in the Western Province.
- Performing duties related to the transfer of state lands to government departments, ministries, local government authorities, boards, and authorities.
- Performing duties assigned from time to time in relation to acquisition activities under the Land Acquisition Act.
- Activities related to the implementation of development projects related to land development and conservation and improving of the living standards of the settlers.
- Performing activities related to updating of the information system related to state lands in the Western Province.
- Performing the affairs related to reporting of monthly progress regarding state lands to the Commissioner General of Lands.
- Tasks related to preparation of development plans, action plans and performance reports.