A framework for cadastral system migration from deeds registration to titles registration

Abstract

This research is specifically focused on developing a framework to guide the process of cadastral system reform from the deeds registration to the titles registration in Sri Lanka. There is no unique or universally accepted cadastral system. The evolutions of cadastral systems around the world considerably vary and heavily depend on each country’s social, political, and economic histories. The evolutionary process of cadastral system in Sri Lanka is largely guided by varying land policy objectives adopted by different western powers in its history. The present deeds registration based cadastral system in Sri Lanka is the direct result of the twofold land policy of British Ceylon (1796-1948). Although the system has long been in place, it is not able to address the present land administration needs of the country. In 1998, the government introduced a cadastral system reform from deeds registration to titles registration, as a remedy for the country’s emerging land administration needs. However, the reform program has made inadequate progress in related matters since its inception. The absence of a proper framework guiding this cadastral system reform exercise largely curtails the progress of the exercise. The framework development to guide the process of cadastral system reform is specifically targeted to ensure the sustainability of cadastral system migration exercise. The case study research strategy was utilised in the empirical stage of this study. Field data collection exercise was centred on the title registration program “Bim Saviya operating under the Ministry of Land and Land Development in Sri Lanka. Specific focus was on legal, administrative, and human capacity issues of the program. The levels of social acceptance of the program and government support for the program were also evaluated. Scenario building methodology, which is widely applied to organisational strategic planning and business prognostication, was adopted in the data analysis stage. Four different future scenarios for the program were developed based on drivers from external forces of societal, technological, economic and political that fundamentally determines the future of the program. A set of cadastral system migration strategies is formulated based on the directions suggested by developed future scenarios.