National Land Use Policy of

Sri Lanka

Department of Land Use Policy Planning

No 31, Pathiba Road,

Narahenpita ,
Colombo 05
 Contents

01 . Background 1-3

02 . The Need for National Land Use Policy 4-8

03 . Policy Foundation 8

04 . Main Principles 8-10

05 . Policy Goal 10

06 . Policy Objectives 11-13

07 . Proposed Policy on Land Use 13-25

I. Land and People

II. Agriculture and Food Security
III. Land and Nature

ANNEXTURE 29
 THE BIRDS THAT GLIDE THE SKY AND
ANIMALS THAT ROAM THE FOREST HAVE AN
EQUAL RIGHT
TO LIVE AND MOVE ANY WHERE IN THE
COUNTRY
AS YOU HAVE. THIS LAND BELONGS TO THE
PEOPLE
AND ALL THE OTHER LIVING BEINGS; YOU
ARE
ONLY THE TRUSTEE."

ARAHATH MAHINDA THERO

TO

KING DEVANAMPIYATHISSA
(B.C.306)
01.Background

Land is the most important natural resource on which the livelihood of man

depends. It is the prime resource and all other natural resources have been

absorbed within it. Hence land can be treated as the fundamental natural

resources; it is the basis for meeting all human, biological and environmental

needs.

In a country like Sri Lanka, where the population is predominantly rural and

depends on agriculture for their livelihood, scientific land use planning should be

the prime activity approach to solve human environmental issues. These issues

have become very sensitive particularly in urban areas and suburbs.

Improper land use can lead to various human, biological and environmental

problems. During the last few decades natural disasters have been on the

increase because of improper land uses in Sri Lanka. For example, human

settlement and cultivation of annual crops on steeply sloping lands have resulted in

rapid soil erosion, land slides and the silting of rivers, waterways and reservoirs,

thereby reducing their capacity and causing floods. Furthermore, the productivity of

fertile lands has been reduced due to improper land use. According to the

available statistics nearly 44% of agricultural lands have been subject to land

degradation.

There is also a significant imbalance between the ownership and tenure patterns

of land. There are a large number of fragmented agricultural lands small in size

and generally unproductive. Similarly, there is a large extent of agricultural land in

plantations areas, a significant proportion of which is underutilized. It can be

 concluded therefore, that in both areas systematic land use planning has to be

undertaken, because of the urgent need to utilize the land resources efficiently.

A national land use policy will to make this task easier.

02. The Need for National Land Use Policy

The total land area of Sri Lanka is 6,552,500 ha. The land has been utilized for
various purposes as indicated below.

Land Use Category Extent (ha)

1. Agriculture (Tea, Rubber, Coconut, Paddy,

& other crops) 2,605,647
2. Urban Areas 29,353
3. Forests, Wildlife, Reserves & Catchments areas 2,000,000
4. Underutilized Lands 728,800
5. Reservations (Reservoirs, Streams,
& Irrigation Channels) 585,300
6. Steeply sloping lands, unsuitable for Agriculture 380,000
7. Barren Lands 77,000
8. Highlands over 5000 feet (1600m) above
mean sea level 76,400
9. Mangroves & Marsh Lands 70,000

TOTAL 6,552,500

I. Although the figures indicate that a large extent of land has been utilized for

agriculture, nevertheless, when looked at from a productivity point of view the

situation is unsatisfactory. For an example; the average yield per ha. of over

50% of the lands brought under Tea, Rubber, and Coconut cultivation is below

the expected yield. In fact an extent of 7,28,800 ha already in use are

 underutilized. This underlines the need to utilize agricultural land according to an

accelerated action plan.

II. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the per capita extent of land in Sri

Lanka was 10.53 hectares. With the increase in population up to 18.6 million by

2001 the per capita extent had decreased to 0.29 ha. As the population

continues to grow the per capita extent of land will further decline rapidly in the

future. This trend has contributed not only the fragmentation of lands into small

unproductive units but also to an acute shortage of land. According to the

Census of Agriculture 2002, there were 1,39,465 families not owning any lands.

This has led to encroachments on state lands and an increase in rural / urban

migration. Hence, solutions to these problems have to be sought through land

use planning.

III. Land is a finite resource; hence it’s total extent cannot be expanded. However

the extent of productive land is decreasing because of land degradation. This

highlights the need for proper land use, based on scientific principles

IV. The existence of a large number of institutions taking decisions on land use, the

complex legal system not conducive to address policy matters and the lack of an

integrated approach to land use have highlighted the need for a land use policy.

In Sri Lanka agriculture accounts for 20% of the Gross Domestic Production (GDP-

2002) and provides employment to 33.1% of its workforce. At the same time

agricultural production accounts for 25% the islands’ exports. Hence, steps have to

be taken to further enhance the contribution of this sector to the national economy.

The scope for enhancing the contribution is great because of the large extent of
underutilized lands, lands of low productivity and abandoned agricultural lands in

the plantation sector to the national economy.

03. Policy Foundation

The national land use policy will provide an appropriate policy framework, to
ensure proper land use, food security, economic development and the
maintenance of the productivity of the land at a higher level. Such a policy will not
only provide a path for the protection, conservation and sustainable use of the land
resource of the country but also offer an appropriate and ideal framework that will
best meet the needs of the present generation while safeguarding the land
resource for the future generation as well.
04. Main Principles
While the National Land Use Policy will be based on technical factors, general

principles will be formulated, taking into account the topography, climate, soils and

soil erosion, forest cover, environmental issues, economic viability etc. The

National Land Use Policy based on the above factors, has been guided by the

following principles.

I. The state on behalf of the people will function as the "trustee" of land to

enable the present and the future generations to use the land on a

sustainable basis.

II. Land use will be based on the principle of zoning.

III. Utilization of land will be based on its physical suitability.

IV. Land utilization will be managed and monitored in order to achieve a

balanced regional development.

V. All the institutions engaged in land related activities will be directed to adopt

an integrated approach to land management.

05. Policy Goal

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.
 06. Policy Objectives
I. Prioritize agriculturally oriented uses relevant to the strengthening of national

economy in order to ensure present and future food security

II. 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.

III. Prevent the under use and improper use of lands.

IV. Promote the capability of the land as a source of generating employment.

V. Rational allocation of land for different purposes and promotion of land

suitability evaluation.

VI. Protect, conserve and manage all sources of water on state as well as

private lands.

VII. Bring about a rational distribution of population and settlement in order to

achieve a balanced regional development and orderly economic growth.

VIII. Minimize fragmentation of agricultural lands.

IX. Prevention of encroachment of lands.

X. Introduce effective tenurial reforms to promote the efficient use of land

resources.

XI. Take steps to minimize the vulnerability of land to natural and human

induced hazards.

XII. Promote land uses that minimize environmental hazard.

XIII. Promote gender equity in the ownership, utilization and conservation of

lands.

XIV. Conserve bio-diversity.

XV. Conserve soil & water

XVI. Preserve historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic values associated with

lands.

07. Proposed Policy on Land Use

The proposed policy on land use is presented under three main themes.

I. Land and People

II. Agriculture and Food Security

III. Land and Nature

I. Land and People

There is a need to provide more vitality to the agricultural sector in order to achieve

a higher productivity by strengthening the role of the state as manager / facilitator.

This will also help to minimize the increase in the extent of underutilized and un

utilized lands in the country at present.

Encroachment on state lands has resulted in an increase in improper and

inappropriate land uses. Hence, there is a need to prevent encroachments on

reservations and highly environmentally sensitive areas.

Lands suitable for non-agricultural activities have to be identified such identified

and development plans prepared for such lands.

In order to improve land management and productivity through land use planning,

the laws and regulations related to land have to be reviewed and a new legal

framework introduced.

While adopting an integrated approach to land resources management all the

stakeholders in the use of land will be consulted and decisions taken through a

participatory process.
Policies

1. Land use plans will be prepared at the National, Provincial, District,

Divisional, and Local levels. Land utilization will be based on these plans.

2. Zonal plans will be prepared to demarcate the suitable areas for settlement,

agriculture and different development activities.

3. Allocation of lands by the state to the people will be based on land suitability

evaluation.

4. Peoples’ participation in the sustainable use of land resources will be

enhanced.

5. Institutions providing services / facilities for land use will be strengthened so

as to provide the people, with a better service.

6. The diverse land laws prevalent at present will be reviewed and a new legal

framework relevant for land use planning will be introduced.

7. Land vested in state authorities, which are either under utilized or unutilized

will be made available for proper development purposes.

8. Areas of cultural, archeological, historical, and aesthetic values will be

protected.

9. Conversion of good agricultural lands for non-agricultural uses in urban

fringe areas will be discouraged.

10. In order to promote regional development, urban settlement programs as

well as rural settlement programs will be formulated and implemented

11. A Land Information Centre (LIC) will be established at the National level and

maintained to facilitate exchange of information on land development and

management.

12. Action will be taken to minimize the fragmentation of agricultural lands.

13. Action will be taken to rehabilitate degraded lands.

14. Action will be taken to avoid land uses that constrain sustainable

development of Sri Lanka.

15. Steps will be taken to prevent encroachments on state lands.

16. Awareness and educational programs on proper and scientific land use will

be implemented.

II. Agriculture and Food Security

In formulating a National Policy on Land Use, priority should be given to food

security and agriculture. The Policy will also focus attention on the rational

allocation of land, improvement of productivity and guiding the conversion of

agricultural land to other uses. It also envisages the expansion of the

agriculture sector to ensure self-sufficiency in food.

 Policies

1. Ensure food security and income generation through the sustainable

utilization of agricultural lands.

2. Diversification of agricultural land use will be encouraged only when land

productivity can be increased.

3. Adoption of suitable and effective conservation measures will be a pre-

requisite and essential condition for agricultural land use.

4. All marginal and uncultivated lands will be developed through appropriate

land uses.

5. Agricultural lands, more suitable for paddy, coconut, rubber, tea, and

minor export crops will be identified and developed. Conversion of these

lands to other uses will be discouraged.

III. Land and Nature

Land resources include all environmental and natural resources. Such as climate,

soil, water, forest, minerals, bio-diversity, marshy lands and wetlands.

All the lands in the country can't be utilized for development. For the sustainable

management of land resources it is necessary to protect and conserve some

lands. The protection, conservation and improvement of the quality of natural

resources, associated with land will ensure the long term well being of the land

without damaging it.

Policies

1. Environmentally sensitive areas will be identified and measures will be taken to

protect and conserve such areas.

2. All the lands 1600m.above the mean sea level will be protected and conserved.

a) Current Land uses within that zone will be allowed to continue with

appropriate conservation measures.

b) All the unutilized lands with less than 60% slopes will undergo land suitability

classification to determine their uses. All unutilized lands with over 60% slope

will be under permanent forestry and grass land.

3. In respect of state and private lands with slopes exceeding 60% situated 1600m.

above mean sea level and without forest cover action will be taken to stabilize

slopes through reforestation, agro forestry and adoption of soil conservation

measures.

4. Natural forests which have a high biological and hydrological value will be

conserved as strict conservation forests. Other forests will be allocated for

regulated multiple use.

5. All forestlands and protected areas will be managed through management plans

based on bio-diversity conservation principles.

6. Action will be taken to identify high, medium and low, landslide prone areas and

steps will be taken to introduce appropriate conservation measures.

7. The reservations of all natural and man made watercourses and sources

whether private or state will be demarcated and protected through appropriate

conservation measures. If needed, action will be taken to acquire private lands.

8. In managing land and water resources, river catchments will be considered as

the management unit.

9. Conservation and management of wetlands will be undertaken in accordance

with land use plans.

10. Areas within the coastal zone vulnerable to natural disasters will be subjected to

Land use zoning. Appropriate uses will be determined on the basis of the

zoning.

11. Training, awareness and educational programmes relevant to the protection,

conservation and improvement of the quality of the natural resources associated

with land will be implemented.

ANNEXTURE

Definitions

Land
Land is the surface of the earth, where we live. It includes soil, underlying geology,

topography, all natural inland water bodies, waterways and plant and animal life.

From a legal point of view, land is any soil or a piece of the earth’s surface. It

explains ownership with an implied ownership. It also includes plants, water, the

atmosphere and buildings added by humans.

Land Use

Land use is considered as the manner in which man has used the land. It reflects a

spatial pattern of activity due to the past and present actions of humans pertaining

to residential, commercial, agricultural, and recreational uses. It also includes

lands under forest, fallow areas and land used for used for infrastructure

development and other purposes.

Land Use Planning

The systematic assessment of land and water potential, alternatives for land use,

and economic and social conditions, in order to select and adopt the best land use

options. Its purpose is to select and put in to practice those land uses that will best

meet the needs of the people, while safeguarding resources for the future.

Land Alienation

The transferring the ownership of the land from one person or body to another. In

Sri Lanka land alienation is generally understand to mean the transferring of state

land to private individuals.

Land Capability Classification

The classification of land in terms of its overall potential for use in specified ways,

or with specified management practices.

Land Suitability

The fitness of a given area of land for a specified kind of land use.
Land Suitability Evaluation

The process of assessment of land for a specified purpose. e.g. arable farming,

conservation forestry. It involves the interpretation of information about landforms,

soils, vegetation, climate and other aspects of land (physical land suitability) and

social and economic information (economic land suitability), in order to identify and

make a comparison of promising kinds of land use.

Sustainable Land Use

Continuous use of the land without a severe and / or , the atmosphere permanent

deterioration in quality.

Watershed

The upstream area of a river basin, which “catches" stores and releases water to a

river.

Food Security

Food security means the fulfillment of food requirements of a country through

imports or local food production. Therefore food security is not synonymous with

self sufficiency in food.

Land Degradation

Temporary or permanent lowering of the productive capacity of land.

Marginal Land

Land of low productivity with respect to a given land use.