Land Development Ordinance
Sri Lankan legislation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Land Development Ordinance No. 19 of 1935 (LDO) was a legislation in British Ceylon by the State Council of Ceylon, during the transition to limited self-rule under the Donoughmore Constitution, to regulate the allocation, use, and development of state lands. Designed primarily to support agricultural colonization, especially in the Dry Zone.[1][2][3][4]
CitationOrdinance No. 19 of 1935
Territorial extentBritish Ceylon
EnactedbyState Council of Ceylon
Enacted1935
| Land Development Ordinance | |
|---|---|
| State Council of Ceylon | |
| |
| Citation | Ordinance No. 19 of 1935 |
| Territorial extent | British Ceylon |
| Enacted by | State Council of Ceylon |
| Enacted | 1935 |
| Repeals | |
| Land Development (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2022 | |
| Status: In force | |
Provisions of the Ordinance
The ordinance provided the legal authority for the state to alienate crown lands to landless individuals under specified conditions. Key features included:
- Permits and Grants: Lands were distributed initially through permits (temporary cultivation rights) and later converted to grants (permanent ownership) after fulfilling cultivation conditions.
- Allotment Size: Land parcels typically ranged from 2.5 to 5 acres, suitable for subsistence farming.
- Inalienability: Lands could not be sold, mortgaged, or leased without government approval, ensuring long-term use for agriculture rather than speculation.
- Inheritance Rules: Only one heir could inherit land to prevent subdivision and preserve economic viability.
- Administrative Supervision: The Land Commissioner’s Department was created to administer the program and ensure compliance.[5]
