Agrarian Development Act 2000 · As enacted · Part I · Rights of Persons Who Cultivate Paddy Lands
5. Order determining the maximum extent of paddy land
Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.
Official translationFrom Department of Government Printing, unchanged
The maximum extent of paddy land that can be cultivated by a tenant cultivator shall be five acres. For the purposes of this section a paddy land which is cultivated by the spouse of a tenant cultivator or by a child of such tenant cultivator who is less than eighteen years of age shall be deemed to be a paddy land which is being cultivated by such tenant cultivator.
The Minister may, subject to the provisions of subsection (1), by Order published in the Gazette, determine the extent of paddy land which can be cultivated by a tenant cultivator within any district to which such Order relates :
Provided however, that, where the Commissioner-General is satisfied after holding a due inquiry that a tenant cultivator is also an owner cultivator of an extent, of paddy land which is not less than five acres in extent the Commissioner-General may declare that the tenant cultivator shall not be entitled to the rights to which a tenant cultivator is entitled under the provisions of this Act and accordingly the provisions of subsections (3) and (4) shall be applicable to such tenant cultivator.
Where a tenant cultivator is in possession of an extent of paddy land which is greater in extent than the extent of paddy land which has been determined by an Order made under subsection (2), he shall be entitled to select the extent of paddy land which he is entitled to cultivate, and shall vacate the balance extent of paddy land on being ordered to do so by
Commissioner-General.
Where a tenant cultivator fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (3) he shall be evicted from the extent of paddy land in excess of the extent specified in the Order under subsection (2) and the provisions of section 8 shall apply to any such eviction.
Where the tenant cultivator vacates such extent of paddy land the landlord shall be entitled to cultivate such extent of paddy land.
Part II
Utilising Agricultural Lands in Accordance with Agricultural Policies
Part III
Part IV
Establishment of Agrarian Tribunals
Part V
Institutional Structure of Farmers’ Organisations
Part VI
Agrarian Development Councils
Part VII
Irrigation Work and the Management of Irrigation Water
Part VIII