Tax to be charged on abandoned property

In a bid to control the dengue epidemic spiralling out of control in the Western Province, the province’s Chief Minister has imposed a 2% tax on abandoned lands. 

The Chief Minister hopes the enactment of the legislation, which already exists in the local Government Ordinance, will push the public to clear lands to ensure dengue sources are destroyed.  

“I expect this to deliver results immediately. We will be able to see this by tomorrow. The amount 2% of land value is not a small amount so people will come forward if not they risk losing their lands. If they don’t come forward immediately the authorities will take over the land,” Chief Minister Isura Devapriya warned.

The same legislation also provides for local government authorities to ensure that such abandoned land is cleared at State expense. 

“We can clear the lands spending state money and later charge it to the owner,” Devapriya told Daily FT adding that this will be done as part of the program to stop the spread of dengue. 

The Western Province has recorded over 34,800 dengue cases during the first six months alone. The number is the highest in the country and has double compared to last year’s reported cases during the corresponding period.