Agrarian Services Act 1979 (No. 58 of 1979). Country/Territory Sri Lanka Document type Legislation Date 1979 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Agrarian Services Act (Cap. 261), 1979, 26 pp. Long titleAn Act to provide security of tenure to tenant cultivators of paddy lands; to specify the rent payable by tenant cultivators to landlords; to provide for maximum productivity of paddy and other agricultural lands through the proper use and management of agricultural crops and livestock; to provide for the establishment of agrarian services committees; to provide for the determination of tenurial and other disputes relating to agricultural land by the Commissioner of Agrarian Services; to confer and impose certain powers and duties on the Commissioner; to provide for the appointment of Cultivation Officers; to provide for the repeal of the Agricultural Productivity Law, No. 2 of 1972, and the Agricultural Lands Law, No. 43 of 1973; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Subject Land & soil, Water Keyword Agricultural development Agricultural land Land tenure Land valuation Lease Ownership Right of use Expropriation Traditional rights/customary rights Transfer Use restrictions Vested rights/existing rights Irrigation Sustainable use Geographical area Asia, Asia and the Pacific, Indian Ocean, South Asian Seas, Southern Asia Abstract Every landlord of an extent of paddy land in respect of which there is a tenant cultivator shall furnish in the prescribed manner the following information to the Commissioner: (a) name of the landlord; (b) name of the tenant cultivator; (c) extent of the paddy land cultivated by the tenant; (d) any other information as may be required. The maximum extent of paddy land that could by cultivated by a tenant is fixed at five acres. Moreover, the Act concerns the following: (a) definition of the rights of cultivators and evicted tenants; (b) restrictions on the eviction of tenants of paddy lands; (c) procedure of eviction; (d) devolution of rights of the tenant cultivator in the absence of nomination of successor and in cases of joint cultivation or rotation; (e) settlement of disputes; (f) transfer of rights of tenant cultivators; (g) payment of rent; (h) granting of loans by prescribed banks. According to the provisions of Part III it shall be the duty of owner cultivators or occupiers to cultivate the land with such crops or rear such breeds of livestock as are best suited for the land, having regard to its natural resources and to the principles of good management established in section 34 of the Act (inter alia, soil conservation, efficient irrigation, water conservation and management, improvement of soil fertility, plant and animal protection against pests and diseases, etc.). There may be appointed for the purposes of this Act a Commissioner of Agrarian Services as well as Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners of Agrarian Services. In particular, the Commissioner may summon a meeting of the owner cultivators and occupiers of land for the purpose of making rules relating to: (a) paddy cultivation or any other form of cultivation; (b) enforcement of established customs affecting such cultivation; (c) proper timing of agricultural operations; (d) efficient irrigation; (e) soil conservation and protection against pests and diseases and trespass of animals. Part V regulates the establishment of Agrarian Services Committees and Agrarian Services Centres by the Commissioner. Every Agrarian Services Committee shall within its area of authority coordinate the agricultural activities and implement the agricultural policies of the Government and shall be subject to the control and direction of the Commissioner. Part VI makes provision for the appointment of Cultivation Officers, who shall within the area of their authority: (a) attend to all matters connected with the cultivation of all agricultural lands; (b) attend to all matters relating to the construction and maintenance of minor irrigation works and to the prevention of any violation to irrigation or cultivation rights; (c) take action in respect of trespass by animals on agricultural lands and irrigation works. Full text English References - Legislation Implemented by Agrarian Services Regulations 1988 (No. 1 of 1988). Legislation | Sri Lanka | 1988 Keyword: Agricultural development, Subsidy/incentive Source: FAO, FAOLEX Amended by Agrarian Services (Amendment) Act 1991 (No. 4 of 1991). Legislation | Sri Lanka | 1991 Keyword: Land tenure, Agricultural land, Lease, Institution, Survey/mapping, Non-governmental entity, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Irrigation Source: FAO, FAOLEX Agrarian Services (Amendment) Act 1990 (No. 9 of 1990). Legislation | Sri Lanka | 1990 Keyword: Agricultural land, Credit, Cooperative/producer organization Source: FAO, FAOLEX Agrarian Services (Amendment) Act No. 40 of 1993. Legislation | Sri Lanka Keyword: Agricultural land, Credit, Cooperative/producer organization Source: FAO, FAOLEX