Nov 20, Colombo: The Cabinet of Ministers have agreed to formulate a common policy acceptable to solve the existing problems related to unauthorized residency in lands solely owned by the Railway Department of Sri Lanka.

Minister of Transport, Dullas Alahapperuma in a paper submitted to the Cabinet said that the Department of Railways leases out lands owned by the Department that are not used for railway operational purposes.

It has been identified that apart from the ordinary people the workers of the Railway Department are themselves resident in lands owned by the Department without having obtained permission.

A total of 2,300 acres is under occupation by unauthorized parties, it has been found.