Journalists in Badulla district identified several corruption related stories connected to State Lands in the district at a workshop conducted by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) jointly with OXFAM International on 20th January 2012 at Heritage Hotel in Badulla. The training workshop was organized as a initiative under the ‘Right toLand for Small-scale Farmers’ project.
They agreed to keep a close tab on State land issues and write news stories to promote right to land in the district. Participation by 35 journalists in the district was proof of the keen interest they have on the problem of land issues.
Unlawful land grabbing, political interference, land issues in the Mahaweli area, unlawful constructions in State protected lands, and the problem faced by plantation workers who have no right for lands were some of the issues highlighted by media personnel.
Take over and allocation of unlawfully occupied lands by the Government, the right to land and laws pertaining to State lands were the topics presented at the workshop.
Land Commissioner in UVA province, Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Rangika Bandaranayake attached to the Center for Studies and Jagath Liyanarchchi, Attorney-at-law conducted the sessions. TISL’s Shan Wijethunge moderated the session to identify land issues in Badulla district.