Seven hundred and fifty families, who did not possess deeds to their lands for the past 40 years, were given their deeds, Minister of Port and Civil Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa said at a meeting at Lunugamwehera.

He said the raping of forest reserves in Hambantota district by the timber racketeers went on unabated. There was a group of people who cleared State land with the intention of becoming owners of those lands by getting ownership deeds later and selling them at exorbitant prices.

The minister said this type of activities would be stopped by the State officials because a large area was essential for the mega projects launched in the Hambantota district.

He said even business magnates from outside the area buy or encroach on the State lands thinking that these lands would be vested in them by the State.