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Sri Lanka: The People’s Land Commission Report 2019-2020 | People’s Alliance for Right to Land

31 March 2020

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The People’s Land Commission was initiated with the objective of studying the many problems and consequential impacts faced by communities as a result of existing land policies, land laws and land administration procedures and practices. This consultative process focused on the continuing exclusion of peoples’ concerns in formulating government policies. The People’s Land Commission consisted of 11 individuals and included activists, academics, researchers and lawyers. The Commission conducted hearings between March and August 2019, visiting vulnerable areas, communities and affected people across 18 districts: Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambantota, Hatton, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Monaragala, Mullaitivu, Matara, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. The Commissioners spoke to a total of 885 people: 428 women, 452 men and 5 others. PARL network partners coordinated Commission hearings. The locations were selected with the aim of ensuring a wide representation of geographical areas and a cross section of views from different ethnic, religious, social and economic backgrounds. The Commission visited protest sites, displaced and landless communities, those who have been evicted and/or relocated and areas where development and urban regeneration projects are ongoing or are being planned.[ . . . ]

Our Land Our Life - PEOPLE’S LAND COMMISSION REPORT 2019-2020