BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows :-

1. This Act may be cited as the State Lands (Recovery, of Possession) (Amendment) Act, No. 29 of 1997.

2. Section 18 of the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act, No. 7 of 1979 as amended by Acts, Nos. 58 of 1981,29 of 1983 and 50 of 1987 is hereby further amended in the definition of "competent authority" as follows :"

(i) by the re-lettering of paragraphs (g), (gg), (h) and (i) of that definition, as paragraphs (i), (j), (k) and (l) respectively, of that definition ; and

(ii) by the insertion, immediately after paragraph (f) of that definition, of the following new paragraphs :" "(g) the Director-General of Agriculture, where such land is under the control of the Department of Agriculture ; (h) the head of any other Government Department or Institution being a department or institution created by law, where such land is under the control of such department or institution.

3. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and Tamil texts of this Act, the Sinhala text shall prevail.