A 55-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman have been arrested for allegedly defrauding around Rs. 100 million, by claiming to give freehold deeds under the ‘Urumaya’ national programme.

According to the Police, the suspects were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for financially defrauding 164 business owners in 2024. 

The female suspect, a resident of Bakamuna, was arrested on August 26 and remanded, while the male suspect, a resident of Maharagama, was arrested on September 29. 

It was revealed during the investigation that the woman had allegedly convinced 164 persons in Kalmunai to provide deeds under the “Urumaya” freehold deed program, and had then taken a sum of Rs. 600,000 from each person, pretending to be a lawyer.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the man had allegedly convinced around 50 businessmen from Kalmunai to come to the Sirikotha Headquarters and prominent hotels in Colombo, to discuss politics and had promised freehold deeds, defrauding them.

The officials have taken legal measures to confiscate Rs. 02 million in the possession of the suspect, which had been fraudulently earned. 

The CID is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A total of 1286 freehold deeds, covering all 15 Divisional Secretariat divisions within the Jaffna district, were distributed to residents, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe symbolically participating in the awarding ceremony.

Under the “Urumaya” programme, a further 13,858 freehold deeds are scheduled for distribution across the Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, and Mannar districts of the Northern Province, the President’s Media Division said.

During his address at the ceremony, President Wickremesinghe announced the revival of the Northern Province housing project next year, which had been stalled due to the recent economic downturn.

Wickremesinghe also said that Sri Lanka holds a unique status as the sole South Asian nation offering free land rights to its citizens.

The President noted that the ‘Urumaya’ programme is therefore the nation’s largest privatization endeavour.

“Our objective is to extend this initiative across all regions of the island, ensuring every individual is liberated and granted land rights in their respective areas of residence,” he said.

“I have authorized the recruitment of 100 new personnel for the Land Commissioner’s Office and 150 for the Surveying Department. This strategic augmentation will enable us to execute this program with utmost efficiency moving forward.” President Wickremesingeh added. (Newswire)

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A hotline number has been established for the public to access the freehold rights of their land, in line with the government’s “Urumaya” national program.

Individuals are encouraged to register their requests by contacting the President’s Office, “Urumaya” National Operations Secretariat, via the hotline number 1908. 

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the public can also contact the President’s Office via telephone numbers 0114 354600/0114 354601, available from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm daily.

Additionally, applicants can utilize the Digital Application Form at www.tinyurl.com/urumaya to meet their requirements conveniently.

It was proposed in the Budget 2024 to grant unconditional freehold ownership of lands allocated to farmers and low-income earners, as outlined in Land Development Ordinance No. 19 of 1935.

The PMD pointed out that acquiring these “Urumaya” freehold deeds presents an opportunity to enhance land value, preserve heritage, and strengthen family economies, while this initiative also marks a significant stride toward promoting fair land ownership and empowering the public. (NewsWire)

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