Land ownership and developing issues: A study based on the Divisional Secretariat of Lunugamvehera (ඉඩම් හිමිකම් හා ඉඩම් සංවර්ධන ගැටළු; ලුණුගම්වෙහෙර ප්‍රාදේශීය ලේකම් කොට්ඨාසය ඇසුරින් අධ්‍යයනයකි)

Abstract

This is a study based on “Land ownership and developing issues: A study based on the Divisional Secretariat of Lunugamvehera”. In this study issues related to land ownership from ancient times to the present and the changes that occurred due to such issues in land developing process are analyzed. Land is the factor that influences on the existence of all. The value of land persists from the past to the present. It can be recognized as a limited resource which has no alternative. Man and land have an unbreakable bond. Early man used land as groups and then later as a result of various reasons, land became a personal property of use. Therefore, issues emerged regarding the ownership of lands. Due to these issues, obstacles occurred for the development achieved through lands. The primary and secondary data were used in identifying issues related to land ownership and development in Divisional Secretariat of Lunugamvehera, and as secondary sources, books, journals and texts published by ministries related to this issue were used and the land owners were also subjected to observation. Primary data thus obtained were presented using quantitative methodology using graphs and percentages. The researcher was able to arrive at several conclusions after analyzing the data obtained by field studies. The main conclusion was that there is direct influence on land development as the person who uses the land has no ownership for it. Apart from that, difficulties to obtain water, weather conditions, composition of soil, unawareness about technology are also influential. Unauthorized people who live in lands could also be seen in considerable amount and thereby land management issues were emerged. The researcher has paid attention on the common weaknesses and remedies in relation to land development. The first chapter introduced the research. There, the research problem, aims, primary and secondary data collection and analysis are discussed. The second chapter discusses land ownership. The third chapter talks of social and economic background; the location of the field, land ownership, nature of the land ownership, the style of land utilizing, how the ownership of lands given to people are discussed. The fourth chapter analyzed the collected data. Last chapter presents the conclusion and recommendations. The researcher expects this research would be of positive impact on land development and in solving issues related to land ownership.