President instructs to expedite e-Land Registration

• Policy aims to reduce fraud, fast-track registration 
• GR advises setting up committee with wildlife, forest conservation and environment ministries 
• Platform to be launched in August with ICTA support 
• E-Passbook to be issued for digital land registration   

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this week instructed relevant officials to expedite the system of electronic registration of lands, in order to eradicate frauds in land registration, and to speed up the process of land registration, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement. 

The public is faced with many difficulties due to frauds and delays in the land registration process. President Rajapaksa highlighted the importance of accelerating the e-Land Registration system in collaboration with Department of Land Commissioner, Land Title Settlement Department, Survey Department and the Registrar General Department. 

This was stated during a discussion on the e-Land Registration system held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday.

President Rajapaksa emphasised that effective coordination among related entities in charge of land registration should be maintained. The President advised to set up a committee comprising the Ministries of Wildlife, Forest Conservation and Environment.

With the new registration program details of the land deeds and title abstracts will be computerised. Information on title abstracts can be obtained online by Attorneys, Notaries, any individual or any Government institute. The officials said this will prevent frauds occurring during the process.

It is expected to launch the program by August with the support of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA). Under this program, an e-Passbook will be issued for the lands registered under the e-Land Registration system.

Officials including Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration J.J. Rathnasiri, Secretary to the Ministry of Lands R.A.A.K. Ranawaka, Registrar General N.C. Vithanage, Land Commissioner General R.M.C.M. Herath, Commissioner General of Land Title Settlement P.M.H. Priyadarshani, Surveyor General A.L.S.C. Perera, and ICTA Chairman Jayantha De Silva attended this meeting.