RESUMPTION OF STATE LAND (ANURADHAPURA PRESERVATION BOARD)

(1) Where any land within the Area of Authority of the Anuradhapura Preservation Board, hereinafter referred to as the ” Board “, had been alienated by the Board before July 17, 1973, to any person for the purpose of industrial, business, residential or commercial development, and the Government Agent is satisfied that no construction of a permanent building has been commenced on that land on or before July 17, 1974, in accordance with a plan approved by the Board, the Government Agent shall by a vesting Order published in the Gazette vest such land in the State with effect from such date as may be specified therein.

(2) Where any land within the Area of Authority of the Board had been alienated by the Board, on or after July 17, 1973, to any person for any industrial, business, residential or commercial development, and the Government Agent is satisfied that no construction of a permanent building has been commenced on that land in accordance with the plan approved by the Board, before the lapse of one year from the date of such alienation, the Government Agent shall by a vesting Order published in the Gazette Vest such land in the State with effect from such date as may be specified therein.

(1) A vesting Order made under section 2 shall have the effect of vesting such land in the State free of all encumbrances.

(2) Where any land is vested in the State by virtue of a vesting Order made under section 2, no person having any interest in such land shall be entitled to enforce his rights in respect of such interest against the State or against any person to whom such land is subsequently alienated by the State.

(3) A vesting Order made under section 2 shall not be called in question in any court of law.

(1) A copy of the vesting Order made under section 2 shall be served on the person to whom the land had been alienated by the Board or where he cannot be found on the person who is in occupation of such land or where there is no person in occupation, by affixing such copy in a conspicuous place on such land.

(2) Upon the copy of a vesting Order being served as required under this Law, the person to whom the land was alienated by the Board or where any other person is in occupation of such land, such other person shall, within a period of thirty days from the date of such service, remove any temporary structure erected on such land and vacate such land.

(3) Where the person to whom the land had been alienated by the Board or the person in occupation of such land fails to vacate the land within the aforesaid period of thirty days, the Government Agent may by himself or through any officers authorized by him, enter such land and take possession of such land. The Government Agent or such officers may, if they consider it necessary to do so, call upon the assistance of the members of the police force for the purpose of taking possession of such land.

(i) any conveyance, transfer, grant, lease or any other disposition whatsoever, and

(ii) the transfer of possession under any purported, proposed or intended conveyance, transfer, grant, lease, or any other disposition whatsoever;