He made these remarks participating in the “Randiyawara” presentation of 12,083 land deeds to Mahaweli settlers of Mahaweli “B” and “C” Rambakan oya systems held at Aralaganwila Maguldamana Maha Vidyalaya last Friday (1st).The land titles are presented to the farmers in terms of the President’s vision to launch a national programme to present one million land deeds island-wide. Under this initiative, one hundred thousand land deeds will be handed over to Mahaweli settlers.
This program is conducted under the special instructions given by President Maithripala Sirisena in 2016 to provide a solution to a problem faced by the Mahaweli settlers for a long period of time. Under this programme, one hundred thousand land deeds have already been presented to the Mahaweli settlers. Meanwhile it is scheduled to present another 40,000 deeds, grant titles, and lease certificates, within the year of 2018.
According to the Land Commissioner General’s Department, one million of deeds and permits have been given to Mahaweli B, C and H systems in 2017 under this project. Under this programme, 12,573 government entities including schools, hospitals, police stations, that have hitherto operated without a prper deed have also received land titles. Today, 6,104, 4,312, 1,595 deeds of ownership were granted to people in Mahaweli Mahaweli B, C, and Ramabakenoya systems respectively. Further, 22 temples were granted land, while 50 government institutions also received titles, totaling 12,083 land deeds.
While addressing the gathering, President mentioned that the Mahaweli was a mammoth multipurpose development project, that covered many areas including electricity, agriculture. The President expressed his pleasure that Moragahakanda reservoir could be constructed to complete the Mahaweli Mahaweli scheme’s large tanks, as the project will help relieve grievance of farmers and strengthen the economy of the country.
President also expressed his confidence that the farming community will greatly benefit from the largest of its kind initiative since Independence to restore 2400 agricultural tanks simultaneously, launched last year. “The project has suffered due to lack of numbers of sufficient engineers and technical officers. Special remedial measures are being taken right now” said the President further. President also mentioned that he has been receiving positive responses to requests he has made from the international community to develop the agricultural sector, adding further that, as in the past days of glory, we should trod a path of agro-based development.
President Sirisena mentioned about the Gramashakthi People’s Movement which is conducted islandwide with the assistance of the Presidential Secretariat in order to uplift the livelihoods of people suffering from poverty. He emphasized that, among all poverty alleviation programmes, Gramashakthi is one of the most successful ones and that everyone should get together to contribute to its success without any political dispute.
President Sirisena said that many progressive outcomes have been achieved during the last three and half years, though some of those can be intangible to some. “Despite criticisms or political instability that some media stations try to depict, a prosperous future is guaranteed to the people” said the President. The President declared open the two-storey building constructed under the ‘Pibidemu Polonnaruwa’ project at Aranaganwila Maguldamana Maha Vidyalaya before the presentation of deeds. Acknowledging the best farming families of Mahaweli C and B and Rambakanoya systems, President presented special gifts to them.
Minister Daya Gamage, State Minister of Mahaweli Development Weerakumara Dissanayake, State Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government and Sports Sriyani Wijewickrama, State Minister Anoma Gamage, Governor of North Central Province Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, and other officials and ministers and State Ministers as well as Secretary of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Anura Dissanayake, Director General of Mahaweli Authority Sarath Chandrasiri Vithana and others were also present at this event.
