The issuance of deeds under the Urumaya program, initiated by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant ownership of government lands to people enjoying them on licenses, has been slow.
The reason for this is the government’s reluctance to distribute more than 23,000 deeds signed by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the beneficiaries, according to reports. The lands proposed to be granted freehold are those owned by the Land Commissioner and the Mahaweli Authority.
The people have handed over to the government nearly 142,700 permits they had to obtain freehold deeds under the ”Urumaya” program. Minister Lalkantha appointed a committee to review the ”Urumaya” program, and the committee’s report has also recommended that deeds signed by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe be given to the people, reliable sources say.