Frequently Asked Questions
To obtain a Long Term Lease (දීර්ඝ කාලීන බදු ඔප්පුවක් ලබා ගනිමු.)
Q: Who can obtain a long term lease for a State Land?
A: A person selected by tender, Land Kachcheri, auction
One who requests state land for a charitable, religious or scientific purpose
Community associations / societies for community work
Cooperative societies
Government subsidiary incorporated institutions (Banks, Corporations, and Boards)
For commercial or industrial or agricultural projects
Q: What documents are required to obtain a long-term lease?
A: If a person;
Request letter
If there is any license or written permission, such license or permit
Affidavit (in the format issued by the Divisional Secretary that the property held by him is
within the limit of 50 acres)
Survey plan or sketch
Affidavit affirming to pay the lease
If a community association / society,
Society's request
Certificate of Registration
Constitution of the Society
Survey plan or sketch
Affidavit affirming to pay the lease
If a limited company,
Certificate of Registration
Details of Directors
Project report
Survey plan or sketch
Affidavit affirming to pay the lease
Q: What terms are included in a lease agreement?
The lease has a 30 year term.
Rent is payable annually.
The amount of lease is revised by 5% every 5 years. (This does not apply to residential land.)
The land cannot be used for a purpose other than the purpose for which it was obtained.
The land should be maintained in a proper state of repair.
Sub leases, mortgages and assignments cannot be made without the prior written consent of
the Land Commissioner General.
Special conditions may be included depending on the purpose of the lease.
In case of violation of the conditions, arrangements should be made to cancel the lease.
To obtain a deed under the Land Development Ordinance (ඉඩම් සංවර්ධන ආඥා පනත
යටතේ ඔප්පුවක අයිතිය ලබා ගනිමු)
Q: What deeds have been issued so far under the Land Development Ordinance?
A: Swarnabhoomi
Jayabhoomi
Rathnabhoomi
Ranbima
Q: What is the importance of a deed?
A: It is a legal document that grants you complete ownership of an allotment of land that you
have thus far developed under a permit under the Land Development Ordinance.
Q: What prerequisites must you meet in order to obtain a deed?
A: You must have received land on a permit under the Land Development Ordinance.
The land should be well developed. If the land is given for residence, you have to build a
house and reside there.
The money owed to the government should be paid.
Q: How can I obtain a deed?
A: If you meet the requirements listed above, submit your application to the Grama Niladhari or
Field Instructor.
Grama Niladhari or Field Instructor inspects the land and submits a report to the Divisional
Secretary.
The Land Officer / Colonization Officer also inspects the land and provides a certified report
to the Divisional Secretary stating that you have developed the land.
The Divisional Secretary / Deputy Land Commissioner (Inter Provincial) shall survey and
demarcate the boundaries of the land by the Department of Surveys and obtain the plan.
Upon the receipt of the plan, the Divisional Secretary / Deputy Land Commissioner (Inter-
Provincial) prepares the deed and sends it to the Land Commissioner General through the
Provincial Land Commissioner.
The Land Commissioner General examines the deed and if correct, forwards it to the
Secretary to the President to obtain the President's signature.
After receiving the signed deed from the Secretary to the President, it is sent to the Divisional
Secretary or Deputy Land Commissioner (Inter-Provincial).
The Divisional Secretary or Deputy Land Commissioner (Inter-Provincial) will inform you to
pay a fee of Rs.100 as service charges for the deed.
You must make the payment promptly.
Then the Divisional Secretary or Deputy Land Commissioner (Inter-Provincial) will register
the deed at the Land Registry and handover it to you.
Q: What are the differences between deed and permit?
A: Permit is a temporary document.
It is with conditions.
Violation of conditions may result in cancellation of permit.
A survey plan is attached to it.
The permit is signed by the Divisional Secretary or Deputy Land Commissioner.
The deed is signed by the President. Therefore, the land will be fully owned.
Q: What are the benefits of a deed?
A: When you need a loan to develop your property or repair your home, you can mortgage your
clear deed to a bank.
It can serve as a guarantee for a loan your child obtains.
It can be used as a surety for bail in court.
Succession of a Deed issued under the Land Development Ordinance
Q: Ownership of a Deed
A: The deeded land can only be given to one's wife/husband, children or blood relatives.
If you wish, you can subdivide the land, subject to limitations in the grant and give to your
children.
One can also give the ownership to one's wife or husband if desired.
Otherwise, the ownership can be given to a blood relative.
Q: If no successor is nominated?
A: You have the right to decide who should inherit your land.
You can nominate anyone who is your spouse / child or blood relative.
If you die without deciding it, the right will be vested as prescribed by law.
In such a case, if you have both male and female children, the male children will be entitled
first.
If there are more than one male child, the eldest male child will be entitled.
If there are only female children, the eldest female child will be entitled.
Even if a younger child is in possession of the land in such a circumstance, the law does not
permit the right him/her to be entitled.
So, by naming the succession, you may provide the children justice.
If this is the case, don't forget to name your successor right away.
Q: How to nominate a successor?
A: That's very simple.
There is no charge for that.
Take 3 Land Com. 155 forms from the Divisional Secretariat or from the office of the Deputy
Land Commissioner / Assistant Land Commissioner (Inter-Provincial) / Land
Commissioner’s office, fill them out, and resubmit them.
This form can be certified by a Notary, Justice of the Peace, and Land Registrar.
It can be done easily and free of charge from the Divisional Secretariat.
The documents will be registered at the Land Registry and one copy will be handed over to
you.
Keep that copy with you.
Q: Can a nomination be revoked?
A: Yes, you can.
When you nominate the persons you choose and register three new forms, your pre-
nomination will be canceled. Contact the following officials for further details.
o Grama Niladhari of your divison
o Colonization Officer / Field Instructor of your village
o Divisional Secretary
o Assistant Land Commissioner - Inter Provincial (Debarawewa, Mahiyanganaya,
Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kantale, Monaragala, Trincomalee)
o Deputy Land Commissioner (Ranbima)
Contact: 0112 79 74 00
Obtain a loan by keeping the Grant as a guarantee
Q: How may a Grant be used to obtain a loan or mortgage?
A: Your request should be submitted to the Divisional Secretary / Deputy Land Commissioner
(Inter-Provincial). He will get the reports from Grama Niladhari / Colonization Officer.
The original Grant, and the copies of the relevant folios obtained from the respective Land
Registry should be submitted along with your request.
A letter from the institution seeking the loan or mortgage, together with a copy of the deed of
agreement issued by the institution, shall be given to the Divisional Secretary / Deputy Land
Commissioner (Inter-Provincial).
The Divisional Secretary / Deputy Land Commissioner (Inter-Provincial) will give you a
letter of permission named No. 5 along with the approved deed of agreement.
The said letter and the approved deed of agreement should be submitted to the lending
institution.
Q: From which institutions can I obtain loans by using my grant as guarantee?
A:
People's Bank
State Mortgage and Investment Bank
Bank of Ceylon
Ceylon Development Finance Bank
National Housing Development Authority
Sri Lanka Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited
Societies registered under the Co-operative Societies Ordinance
Other agencies approved by the Land Commissioner General
Institutions registered under the Banking Act No. 30 of 1988
Institutions registered under the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963
Institutions registered under the Control of Finance Companies Act No. 27 of 1979
Institutions registered under the amended Finance Companies Act No. 78 of 1988
Q: If the loan is not paid?
A:
If the loan or mortgage is not paid, the institution will forfeit the land.
They can sell the land and recover the loan amount
Then, anyone can purchase the land. There, class, occupation, and income are not taken into
account.
Since the land was purchased with conditions, the purchasers are required to abide by the
terms of the grant.
When re-transferring the specified land, purchasers need to obtain a prior letter of approval
from the Divisional Secretary or Deputy Land Commissioner (Inter-Provincial).
Q: Can the deed be used as a guarantee for a child's loan?
A: Yes. There, you will be the guarantor of the loan amount.