Corporate Development Division

Agrarian Development Board was founded on 01st October 1957 as the Department of Agrarian Services.

The Institutional Development Division (Services) which plays a pivotal role in the operations is the nerve centre of the Department.

Presently, this division is headed by the Commissioner (Services) Mr. K.P. Rasika Hemajith Silva. He is ably supported by Assistant Commissioners (Service) Mrs. A. Chathuri Karunathilaka, Mr. R.A.C. Prasad Ranatunga and Mr. Ranjith Ramawickrema. In addition, the Division is manned by 21 member staff including a chief management assistant.

Aside from handling 15961 farmers’ organizations, this division discharges the following functions in 562 Agrarian Service Centers and 25 district offices. The Division is directly under the supervision of the Commissioner General and Additional Commissioner General.

Services

The Institutional Development Division of the Department of Agrarian Development which plays a crucial role in the implementation of the state agricultural policy, administers Agrarian Services Centers through Agrarian Development District Centers. Accordingly, this division is responsible for maintaining proper coordination between the government institutions operational at the field level. The primary function of the Department is to implement the Agrarian Development Act No 46 of 2000 as amended by the Agrarian Development (Amendment) Act No. 46 of 2011 and the Department is responsible for the monitoring and regulation of the provisions thereof, implementation of special agricultural programmes and disseminate information of such programmes to the ministerial level and grass root level. Accordingly, the services offered by the Department are detailed below.

Utilizing agricultural lands in accordance with agricultural policies

Accordingly, sections 22,23,24,25, 26 are enforced by the Department. The Department is empowered by the Act to constitute legal action to cause all agricultural lands which are not cultivated or inefficiently cultivated to be cultivated. Identifying such lands through farmers’ organizations or the Agricultural Research and Production Assistant of the relevant division and informing and encouraging the owner cultivator or occupier to cultivate the land and if the land is still not cultivated, having obtained a preliminary inquiry report, executing necessary activities to have the land cultivated through show cause letters, supervision orders and dispossession orders in terms of the above provisions of the Act and orders made under the Act and published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1585/15 dated 21.01.2009 and instructions given by Circular No. 17/2018 dated 01.08.2018.

Activities relating to the establishment of farmers’ organizations throughout the island, establishment of farmers’ organization District Federation and establishment, maintenance and promotion, financial administration and dissolution of the National Farmers’ Organization Federation in terms of Sections 43,60,65 of the Act.
Establishment, maintenance and promotion of Agrarian Development Councils in terms of Section 51 of the Act and keeping accounts, auditing administering and monitoring of such councils. Establishment, maintenance and monitoring of Agrarian Service Centres.
Imposition and recovery of acreage tax as per the provisions of Section 56 of the Act and strengthening the Agrarian Development Fund by obtaining the stipulated percentage for the Fund.
Launching special government programmes for the provision of tractors and agricultural implements , inspection of the recovery of installments for tractors and agricultural implements thus provided, implementing transferring and disposing activities and monitoring the keeping of records.
Implementation of special agricultural programmes of the government
- Organic fertilizer production ad promotion programmes
- Programmes associated with the National Food Production Year
- Home-gardening programmes
- Popularizing organic farming
- Establishing fruit villages
- Seed paddy farm development programmes
- Programmes for equipping farmers with traditional knowledge and gathering traditional knowledge
- Felicitation programme for farmers
- Other programmes implemented from time to time.
Implementation of the ‘Kethata Aruna’ fertilizer subsidy pogramme of the government, keeping records thereof and regulating inter-institutional coordination.
Calling for reports on crop damages, coordination amongst relevant organizations, disbursement of financial provisions received for the payment of compensation and conducting crop cultivation activities.
Collecting and maintaining information on agricultural crops and submitting same when necessary.
Printing, storing, distributing and administering General Cash and Acreage Tax receipt books for the 562 Agrarian Service Centres.
Reporting of appeals, complaints etc. related to the activities of this division, making observations and recommendations and making decisions.
Implementing programs to fulfill traditional agricultural practices and practices.
Financial control and supervision of the Agrarian Services Committees, Agrarian Development Committees and the Annual Accounts and Quarterly Reports.
Responding to government audit queries relating to the above functions, providing support and information required for internal audit.
Responding to parliamentary oral questions and running for the letters of the program to the President.
Activities related to exhibitions and felicitations and various programs conducted by ministries, departments and statutory bodies.
Activities pertaining to the issue of farmer identity cards in terms of section 75 of the Act.
Sell Agrarian Service Centers.
Preparation of monthly consolidated reports at Agrarian Service Centers.

Staff Officers

Mr. Mr. K. A. S. Chandana
Commissioner (Services)

+94

Name	Designation	Tel No :
Mr. J. M. M. T. B. Samarakoon	Assi. Commissioner (Services)	+94
Mrs. K. K. P. S. Rthnayake	Assi. Commissioner (Services)	+94
Mr. R. A. C. P. Ranathunga	Assi. Commissioner (Services)	+94