| Author | Arangala, P. M. H. G. S. |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-94-07 |
| Subject(s) | Land tenure--Sri Lanka--Colombo
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree
of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-94-07 |
| Abstract | The government of Sri Lanka decided that the ownership of the plots of
land on which squatter and slum dwellers are living should be regularized
physically as well as legally in an effort to solve the housing problems of
the urban poor.
National Housing Development Authority CNHDA) 8.s a state housing
agency, has reached 91% of the shanty units in the city of Colombo, out of
which 55% ha.ve been regularized. The land requirement of almost half of the
shanty housing units have been fulfilled so far.
Although the housing problem of the urban poor is reduced by half in
this way, it appears that a considerable number of beneficiaries illegally
transfer their tenure rights to a third party which is outside the target
group. The living condition of target group goes from bad to worse because
they squat again in the city or· live as tenants or with relatives after
transferring their properties.
Buying or selling of upgraded properties is prohibited except the
transfer of the leasehold tenure to blood relatives. No procedure is
developed to control the transactions at policy level. Therefore, illegal
property transactions are going on freely.
Informal transaction cannot be considered as a good thing or a. bad
thing . Some transactions help to improve economic and social conditions of
the transferrer where as some transactions put the situation of the
transferrer from bad to worse. Physical, social and environmental conditions
improving due to new comers arrival.
On the other hand transferee also suffer from housing shorts.ge. Most
of them previously lived as tenant or lived with relatives. They also need
to fulfil their housing needs. There is no access for them to enter the
formal market due to high cost. Most buyers are extended families of low-income settlements. Foreign currency earnings are the influencing factor for
them to buy upgraded properties.
The existing informal market is very primitive and has not matured.
Most of the transactions take place between people who do not known each
other. Speculator and middleman involvement is marginal. Most of the
properties are used for residential purposes .
Appropriate policy strategies would be recommending to achieve the
main objectives of the State. |
| Year | 1994 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-94-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sheng, Yap Kioe ;Fukushima, Shigeru
|
| Examination Committee(s) | Wickramanayake, B.W.E. ;Yonthanit Promonsathean |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Canadian High Commission, Sri Lanka.; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology,1994 |