20.
| (1) The Minister shall, by Notification published in the Gazette, determine from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this section, the rent to be paid by the tenant cultivator of any extent of paddy land. |
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| (2) A determination under subsection (1) shall specify the number of bushels of paddy, not exceeding fifteen, in respect of each cultivated acre of any extent of paddy land in any region to which such determination applies or a portion, not exceeding one quarter, of the total yield of the paddy from that extent reduced by the amount of any charge which may be Imposed under the provisions of the Agricultural Productivity Law, No. 2 of 1972, or the customary rent hitherto payable in respect of that extent whichever is the least, as the rent payable for that extent for each paddy cultivation season. |
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| (3) The rent determined under subsection (1) may vary in respect of different Administrative Districts or of different parts of an Administrative District. |
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| (4) Where the rent determined under subsection (1) is computed on the basis of a specified number of bushels of paddy for each cultivated acre, the rent for any cultivated area of less than one acre shall be computed in the proportion that such area bears to one acre. |
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| (5) The rent payable for any extent of paddy land shall, for each paddy cultivation Reason, consist of-
| | (a) the quantity of paddy computed for that extent in accordance with such determination in force under the preceding provisions of this section as is applicable to paddy lands of the region in which that extent lies, and | | |
| | (b) where the landlord desires to have the rent in money and the tenant cultivator agrees to pay the rent in money, the equivalent in money of the rent payable in paddy under paragraph (a) of this subsection computed at the price fixed for the time being for paddy of the same description as the paddy from that extent in accordance with the provisions of any law. | | |
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| (6) Where the Agricultural Productivity Committee within whose local jurisdiction any extent of paddy land wholly or mainly lies is satisfied that the tenant cultivator of such extent has wilfully neglected the cultivation of such extent during any paddy cultivation season in which cultivation was possible or has, without reasonable cause, committed during any paddy cultivation season a breach of any established custom, relating to cultivation, such Committee may order that the rent for such season payable in paddy under the provisions of this Law in respect of such extent shall be computed on the basis specified by such Committee and according to the rent in paddy so computed the rent in money shall be computed. |
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| (7) Where the cultivation of the extent of paddy land of a tenant cultivator is a partial failure during any paddy cultivation season for any cause other than his fault or neglect, the rent payable by him for such season in respect of such extent shall be reduced by such reasonable amount as shall be determined by the Agricultural Productivity Committee within whose local jurisdiction such extent wholly or mainly lies. |
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| (8) Where any dispute arises between the tenant cultivator of any extent of paddy land and his landlord as to the amount of the rent payable in respect of such extent under the determination made under subsection (1), such dispute may be referred for decision to the Tribunal within whose local jurisdiction such extent wholly or mainly lies. The decision of the Tribunal on such dispute shall be communicated in writing to such, tenant cultivator and to his landlord. Such decision shall be final and, conclusive. |
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Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts