COLOMBO, Sept. 17 -- The special committee appointed to safeguard lands in the Eastern Province has directed officials to submit within two months a comprehensive report on illegal land encroachments and unauthorized constructions in coastal areas and on State land in the Province.

The decision was taken at the committee's second meeting, held on Wednesday (16) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of the President's Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi.

The committee was established to protect State land in the Eastern Province, prevent illegal land acquisitions and encroachments, safeguard the coastal belt and coordinate relevant State institutions in resolving land-related disputes.

At the meeting, officials review...