Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved a comprehensive framework to resettle families displaced by Cyclone Ditwah, utilizing state land, privately donated land, and previously allocated permits to address housing shortages.
The Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed a multi-faceted approach to allocate land for resettling residents displaced by Cyclone Ditwah, focusing on those whose homes were destroyed or who live in high-risk landslide zones. The government indicated that resettlement initiatives are currently in progress, though state-owned land alone is insufficient to meet the scale of demand.
To bridge this gap, the approved framework permits the reallocation of land previously granted under government permits. Under this mechanism, current permit holders will receive compensation for any improvements made to the land through the relevant Divisional Secretary, after which the land can be reallocated to another displaced person within the same income bracket. Additionally, the Cabinet approved a formal process for accepting privately owned land donated to the government, which will be transferred to state ownership through a deed of gift and registered under the State Lands Ordinance.
For affected individuals unable to secure alternative land through these arrangements, the government will allocate plots of up to 10 perches from either state reserves or donated properties. Ownership of such allocated land will be granted under the State Lands Ordinance No. 8 of 1947. The framework also requires private land donors to formally waive compensation claims under the Land Acquisition Act, streamlining the government's ability to register ownership and proceed with resettlement.
These measures represent an effort to expedite the resettlement process while navigating the constraint of limited state land availability following the cyclone's impact.
