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Wednesday, 26 March 2014 00:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
People visiting the Nugegoda Delkanda Land Registry for land title deed extracts can now obtain them in 30 minutes, says Delkanda Land Registrar Diluka P. Vithanachchi.
“Earlier the public had to spend about two days for this. They had to visit the land registry twice to obtain an extract. But now they obtain the extract within about half an hour on the very first day they visit the land registry for this. This is because of the financial and technical support the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) has given to this registry under the e-land register project. ICTA has provided the facility for scanning and obtaining print-outs of extracts of title deeds of lands. With the help of ICTA we scanned the extracts of title deeds and computerized them,” Vithanachchi said.
Delving into details about the work at the land registry she said: “The areas this land registry covers are divisional secretariat areas of Kottawa, Maharagama, Kesbewa, Moratuwa, Ratmalana, and Dehiwela. On an average 500 applicants come to this land registry daily to obtain extracts of title deeds of lands”.
“When a land transfer takes place three copies of the title deed are signed. Of these, one is retained at the relevant land registry, the other is sent to the Notary of the area concerned. The third signed copy is retained by the notary public who wrote the title deed. This land registry at Delkanda has 3,800 volumes containing title deeds. Each volume has 300 pages.
The ICTA presented the registry with a scanner in 2012. This has also helped the registry to check whether any alteration has been made in the title deeds of lands after extracts of title deeds are issued by the registry. “Whenever there is a suspicion of any fraudulence in land transaction, we do the scanning to ensure honesty,” Vithanachchi pointed out.
The Land Registrar said that ICTA also helped the registry by creating a facility at the registry for networking of all employees. This, the registrar said, had helped time-saving work efficiency a great deal.
“ICTA Chairman Prof. P.W. Epasinhge visited this registry many times and inquired about the work here. This has boosted efficiency at this registry.”
Explaining how a great change has taken place at the land registry she heads, Vithanachchi said: “The relevant software was installed at this land registry in November, 2013 and up to now a remarkable change has occurred in land-related public service offered by this Land Registry. This change for the better is reflected mainly in the minimisation of misappropriation of property, fraudulent land transfer and land acquisition.
“The software has brought in such a quality to the work that all the employees at the registry numbering about 50 are motivated to work with a sense of professionalism. They feel proud to work at the registry which is increasing in popularity due to its improved work efficiency, and courteous service. The public who receive the service are pleased and express their pleasure at the speedy and courteous service. This is contagious and triggers mutual cordial relationship horizontally and vertically among employees and the public.”
The Registrar General’s Department and ICTA have commenced a project of automating all activities of land registries in Colombo, Gampaha and Delkanda, Jaffna and Mannar as a pilot project. This will facilitate a more efficient and fruitful public service and minimise fraud.
