6. Land Law
Land Law
This domain tests Sri Lankan land tenure, state land, private ownership, prescription, title registration and the legal effect of deeds and plans. Expect distinctions between ownership, possession and boundary evidence.
Core rules
- Land in Sri Lanka is broadly state land or private land; state land may be granted, leased or permitted under statutes such as the Land Development Ordinance.
- A deed transfers interests but does not by itself prove the physical boundary on the ground.
- Prescription can confer rights after statutory periods of possession; the quality of possession matters.
- Title registration aims to make the register conclusive, subject to statutory exceptions and fraud provisions.
- Land acquisition must follow statutory procedure, including notice, inquiry and compensation.
Worked example
A claimant has occupied a fenced parcel for many years, but the deed describes a different area. The surveyor should not 'fix' the deed by moving the fence. First establish the registered title and any prescription claim; then survey the occupation and the deed boundary separately and report the discrepancy. The legal outcome depends on title and prescription, not on the surveyor's preference.
Traps
Assuming a notarised deed is a boundary survey; confusing state land permits with freehold; treating long occupation as automatic title; ignoring registration exceptions; advising on law beyond your role.