Officials have pointed out that land administration could be made more systematic by maintaining information on the ownership, boundaries and other relevant details of State lands under a single data system, while land fraud could be minimised by establishing a national digital land information system based on Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates.

The need to modernise the land administration system to make it more transparent and efficient through digital technology was emphasised at the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability.

The Committee, which met recently at Parliament under the chairmanship of Hector Appuhamy, held a discussion on the roles of institutions responsible for the country’s land sector, the challenges they face and the reforms required in land administration.

During the meeting, the need to network all land-related data through an integrated digital system was emphasised in order to minimise the misuse of State land and fraud involving forged deeds.

Attention was also drawn to coordination issues relating to land ownership and boundary demarcation among Government institutions, including the Land Reform Commission and the Mahaweli Authority.

The Committee emphasised that transparency and efficiency in the land administration sector could be further enhanced by implementing the necessary legal and administrative reforms, introducing digital data systems and strengthening coordination among Government institutions.

Meanwhile, the Committee also considered and approved a Bill to amend the Animals Act, No. 29 of 1958.

The proposed amendments are intended to bring the transportation of goats, pigs and sheep within the regulatory framework of the Act and facilitate measures to control animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease through the proper regulation of animal transportation.

A proposal to amend the Survey Act, No. 17 of 2002 was also considered.

Discussions focused on establishing the necessary legal framework for depositing private survey plans prepared by licensed surveyors in the archives of the Survey Department, protecting intellectual property rights and enabling members of the public to obtain certified copies of such plans.