Laws to ban sale of land to foreigners
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
Laws are to be introduced shortly to ban the sale of lands to foreigners, Land and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said.
He said the Land Ordinance would be amended to give effect to the new law on a directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry is to bring in two new draft bills pertaining to land ownership. The Minister said the amendments to the Land Ordinance would be made, parallel to those new laws.
“The new land laws are aimed at safeguarding the land rights of Sri Lankans,” he said.
Land and Land Development Ministry sources said that foreigners have acquired over 10,000 acres of land during the past two decades in Sri Lanka, including private land within the World Heritage Dutch Fort in Galle.
Out of the total 6.5 million hectares land mass of Sri Lanka, 5.2 million hectares belong to the State.
By Chandani Kirinde-Sunday, February 03, 2013
On an order by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the sale of 122 perches of prime land in Horton Place, Colombo 7 to the Chinese embassy has been exempted from taxes normally levied for the sale of property to foreigners.
Under the provisions of the Finance Act, when there is a transfer of ownership of property within Sri Lanka, a tax equivalent to the value of the property is charged from the transferee if more than 25 per cent of its ownership goes to a person who is not a citizen of Sri Lanka.
The Colombo 7 land transfer to the Chinese embassy has also been exempted from another provision which prohibits the sale of property below the value specified by the Chief Valuer.
The order made by President Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning said the relevant sections in the Finance Act would not apply to the transfer of the land and premises located at No. 112, Horton place, Colombo 7.
| Canadian national stabbed in Paranthan area |
| [ Friday, 04 May 2012, 12:21.08 PM GMT +05:30 ] |
  Group of unidentified person have stabbed a Canadian national at Paranthan area. |
| This fatal incident occurred at 9.00 pm last evening at Paranthan Kumarapuram area. Man arrives from Canada to watch his lands at Killinochchie Kumarapuram area has been stabbed this regar. Victim is identified has 53 years old Antoypillai Mahendrarasa. Tense situation arose in the Paranthan area. Area residents stated none of the suspects had been arrested in connection this with alleged murder and also said they all were suspicious over their security in the area. Speaking to media diplomats said foreign national arrive SriLanka also not permitted to enjoy freedom in this country. This murder has created fear among foreigners schedule to visit SriLanka. However police carries out further investigations this regard.    |
