The Government’s newly launched ‘Himikama’ (ownership) freehold land deed programme, aimed at converting long-standing permit and grant lands into absolute ownership, has received 76,000 applications through the eState Land Information and Management System (eSLIM), with authorities expecting between 40,000 and 45,000 to qualify during the initial six-month phase.
The programme was formally inaugurated on Friday (27 February) in Anuradhapura under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, where 500 ‘Himikama’ freehold title deeds were issued to beneficiaries in the district. The President symbolically handed over 50 deeds at the national ceremony held at the North Central Provincial Council Auditorium in Korakahawewa.
Land Commissioner General Chandana Ranaweera Arachchi said that the department intended to review all 76,000 applications received through eSLIM within the first six months of the rollout. However, he cautioned that not all applications would qualify.
“We hope to grant deeds to all applicants, but realistically, we expect around 40,000–45,000 to be presented without issues or disputes. We require written consent from the spouse, nominated successor, and established heirs residing on the land. Without that consent, we will not proceed,” he said.
The Land Commissioner General explained that the inclusion of mandatory family consent was one of the key safeguards introduced, following a review by a Cabinet-appointed expert committee. Under previous schemes like ‘Urumaya,’ introduced by the previous Government, applicants could obtain freehold status without securing consent from family members, creating the risk of immediate sale and displacement of dependents.
“The committee found that in some instances, once a deed was issued, the land could be sold without the knowledge or consent of family members who had a legitimate interest. We have corrected that. The ‘Himikama’ deed will only be issued after verifying family consent and resolving boundary matters.”
According to Ranaweera Arachchi, boundaries are certified by Government surveyors, with deeds issued only after approved plans are obtained from the Survey Department. “Once the transfer is complete, there should be no further liability on the State regarding those boundaries,” he added.
The programme applies islandwide to lands granted under the Land Development Ordinance that are free of disputes or pending court cases. However, lands under litigation, those situated within tank reserves, or those subject to environmental or legal complications will be excluded until such issues are resolved separately.
On concerns that removing transfer restrictions could lead to accumulation of land by wealthy buyers, the Land Commissioner General noted that a condition had been imposed preventing families who received a ‘Himikama’ deed from obtaining another free State land grant in future.
“If they sell this land, they cannot request free Government land again. They may be eligible for a lease, but not a further free grant. This is a control mechanism,” he said.
Meanwhile, minimum subdivision limits also apply. High lands must adhere to the minimum lot sizes prescribed by relevant local authorities, while paddy lands must comply with the Agrarian Development Act and, where applicable, regulations under the Mahaweli Authority or Irrigation Department.
Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath Vitharana said that the initiative sought to resolve a decades-old grievance over the lack of freehold (‘sinnakkara’) ownership among families occupying State land under permits and grants issued in terms of the Land Development Ordinance No.19 of 1935.
“For decades, citizens have lived on land without absolute ownership. This has affected not only their personal security but also national economic development. People were hesitant to develop land when they did not have full ownership. That delay has had a direct impact on productivity and growth,” Vitharana said.