ADMIRALTY LANDS

“Whereas divers lands have been at various times purchased in Ceylon for the use of the Naval Service of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and conveyed to several different persons in trust for Her Majesty and Her Royal Predecessors, and Her and Their Heirs and Successors, and the same have been placed under the charge of the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the said United Kingdom for the time being ; and it is expedient that the same and all other lands in Ceylon that may be hereafter purchased or in any manner acquired by or used and occupied by or for the said service should be vested in the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, or the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid, for the time being :

It is enacted as follows : –

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Admiralty Lands Ordinance.

2. All lands and property which have been conveyed to or are vested in any person or persons, or are held or in any manner occupied by or in the name of any person in trust for Her Majesty or Her Royal Predecessors, and Her or Their Heirs or Successors, for the use of the Naval Service of the said United Kingdom, or of any of the departments of or belonging to the said Naval Service, by whatever title or for whatever interest therein the same shall be had, held, or occupied, together with all rights, servitudes, and appurtenances thereto belonging, shall be vested in the Lord High Admiral of the said United Kingdom, or the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid for the time being, according to the respective nature and quality of the said lands, and the several interests therein respectively, in trust for Her Majesty, Her Heirs, and Successors, for the public service.

3. From and after the purchase and conveyance, grant or demise thereof, all other lands hereafter purchased, taken, held, or occupied by the Lord High Admiral or the Commissioners aforesaid, or by any person by his or their order for the said Naval Service, or any of the departments thereof, and all things thereafter erected or built thereon, with the rights, servitudes, and appurtenances to the said lands and things respectively belonging, shall in like manner be vested in the Lord High Admiral or the said Commissioners for the time being, according to the respective nature and quality of the said lands and things, and the several interests therein in trust as aforesaid.

4. Upon the death, resignation, or removal of the present Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, or of any of them, or of any future such Commissioners or of any Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, all such lands and things shall become vested in and be held by the succeeding Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid, or the Lord High Admiral aforesaid, as the case may be, and so in perpetual succession, according to the respective nature and quality of the said lands and the several interests therein in trust as aforesaid.

5. In all deeds, conveyances, leases, contracts, and other instruments touching any land, property, matter or thing relating to the said Naval Service, or to any department under the control of the Commissioners aforesaid, or whereto they or any of them shall be parties, it shall be sufficient to describe them generally as ” The Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”, without expressing . their names ; and all such deeds, conveyances, leases contracts, and other instruments wherein the said Commissioners shall be so described, and the execution or signature thereof by any two of them, or any person or persons duly authorized to sign for them, shall be as valid as if they or any of them had been expressly named therein and had executed or signed the same.

6. The Lord High Admiral or the said Commissioners, or any two or more of them, or any person duly authorized by him or them, may sell, exchange, or in any manner dispose of or let or demise any of the said lands or property, together with their respective appurtenances vested in them by this Ordinance, either by public auction or private contract, and in due form of law convey, lease, or demise the same respectively to any person, and do all things in relation to such lands or property, or for the better management thereof, which he or they shall deem beneficial for the public service, which might be done by any person having a like interest in such lands and property.

7. The Lord High Admiral, or the Commissioners aforesaid for the time being, are hereby empowered to bring, prosecute, and maintain any suit or other proceeding at law, for recovering possession of any lands or property by this Ordinance vested in him or them, and to sue for any arrears of rent due in respect thereof, under any demise from the Lord High Admiral or Commissioners, or any person on his or their behalf, or on behalf of Her Majesty, and also to bring, prosecute, or maintain, or to defend any other suit in respect of the said lands or property, or any trespass or encroachment committed thereon, or damage or injury done thereto ; and in every such suit the said Commissioners shall be called “The Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Northern Ireland “, without naming them ; and no such suit shall abate by the death, resignation, or removal of such Lord High Admiral or of such Commissioners, or any of them.