Short Course in Involuntary Land Acquisition and Resettlement (ILAR)

The Government of Sri Lanka has implemented and planned a large number of development projects with significant investments to develop infrastructure facilities and improve the living conditions of its citizens, including the construction of expressways, improvements to highways, roads, and railway lines, port expansions, urban development, and power stations and transmission lines. These development projects require the acquisition of private lands or recovery of encroached state lands, resulting in physical displacement and loss of incomes and livelihoods of the affected persons.

The proper resettlement planning and implementation contribute to restoring or improving the incomes and living conditions of the affected people and to resolving problems related to delays in project implementation, public protests and complaints, and violations of legal rights of the affected population.

For Whom

Government officials working in development projects, project planning and implementing agencies, consultants, and others interested in broadening knowledge in involuntary resettlement.

Course Description: 

This is a practice –oriented training course in involuntary land acquisition and resettlement with lectures covering 20 module sessions, field visits, and group based learning. The course consists of the following topics:

• Legal framework and procedures for land acquisition
• National Involuntary Resettlement Policy
• Safeguard policies of donor agencies
• Assessment of resettlement impacts and risks
• Resettlement planning instruments
• Property valuation principles and procedures
• Public consultation and information disclosure
• Judicial process and grievance redress mechanisms
• Income restoration measures
• Monitoring and evaluation

The OUSL will provide 48 hours of teaching through face-to-face sessions on Saturdays. Learner support by group discussions, presentations, field visits, and analysis of case studies is also included.

Evaluation

The completion of the course is determined based on:

1) 80% attendance at lectures (50% of total marks),

2) group presentations (25% of total marks) and

3) field visits and discussions (25% of total marks).

The participants who have obtained 60% of the total marks will be awarded “Certificate of Completion in Involuntary Land Acquisition and Resettlement”.