• Forest Dept. to redraw forest reserves boundaries under the supervision of DSs with input from GNs, local communities 

The Department of Forest Conservation is set to release 250,000 acres of lands in the Northern and Eastern Provinces to their original owners, according to the Ministry of Land and Irrigation.

The frequent issues that the Northern and Eastern people face include the occupation of their lands by the military forces and State departments.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Dr. Susil Ranasinghe said that a major issue had arisen in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as the Department has marked forest reserve boundaries using Google Maps, without properly consulting the local communities. As a result, he said that large areas of land that belonged to the people have been mistakenly demarcated as forest reserves. 

"We had preliminary discussions with all the stakeholders including the Environment Ministry, the Provincial Governors, the Forest Conservation Department, and the Land Commissioner General's Department. During these discussions, it was agreed that 250,000 acres of land acquired by the Forest Conservation Department would be released back to the people. The boundaries of the forest reserves will be redrawn, this time under the supervision of the respective Divisional Secretaries (DSs) and with input from the Grama Niladharis (GNs) and local communities," he added.

The land issues in the Northern and Eastern Provinces are connected to the past internal conflict and the struggles of the people who live there. Many families lost their homes and lands during the conflict, and even years after the conflict ended, some are still fighting to get them back. Some lands are under military control, while others have been taken over by various governmental departments. Successive governments have returned some lands, but, many people are still waiting for their lands to be returned.