Section No :  
1980 Revised version
FORESTS
Marginal Notes
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Forest Ordinance.
2. Questions of title.
3. Order declaring forest reserved.
4. Publication of Order in Sinhala and Tamil.
5. Power of forest officer to stop ways and watercourses in reserved forest.
6. Acts prohibited in such forests.
7. Further prohibited acts. [ 2,56 of 1979.]
8. Acts excepted from prohibition contained in sections 6 and 7.
9. Power of Minister to suspend rights of pasture, .;c in certain cases.
10. Forests reserved under former law.
11. Application of Ordinance to leased forests.
12. Constitution of village forests,
13. Trees in Schedule I in a village forest the property of the State.
14. Acts prohibited in village forest.
15. Power of Minister to make regulations for village forests.
16. Saving of private rights.
17. Penalty for breach of sections 14 and 15.
18. Reserved trees.
19. Protection of reserved trees.
20. Power to make rules generally.
21. Penalties. [5,13 of 1966-]
22. Exemptions
23. Protection from conviction in forest cases.
24. Power of Minister to make regulations.
25. Penalties. [7,13 of 1966.]
26. Power of Government Agent to order a definition of boundaries in certain cases.
27. Power of forest officer, ;c, to examine timber in transit. [8,13 of 1966.]
28. Inspection of private timber depots and timber yards. [ 9, 13 of 1966.]
29. All persons bound to aid in case of accident at any place where timber is detained or kept by any forest officer.
30. Certain kinds of timber to be deemed property of the State until title thereto proved.
31. Publication of notice as to, and claims to, timber collected under section 30.
32. Procedure on claim preferred to such timber.
33. On rejection of claim to such timber claimant may institute suit.
34. Disposal of unclaimed timber.
35. Payments to be made by claimant before timber is delivered to him.
36. Power of Minister to make regulations and prescribe penalties.
37. Seizure of property liable to confiscation.
38. Procedure on seizure. [ 10, 13 of 1966.]
40. Power of court to confiscate timber, forest produce, ;c. [ 12, 13 of 19661 [ 9, 56 of 1979.]
41. Disposal, on conclusion of trial for any forest offence, of timber or forest produce which was the subject-matter of the trial. [ 13, 13 of 1966.]
42. Disposal of perishable property. [ 14, 13 of 1966.]
43. Appeal from orders.
44. Property when vested in state.
45. Powers of Minister to order release of seizure.
46. Penalty for wrongful seizure.
47. Penalty for counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees and timber, and for altering boundary marks. [ 15, 13 of 1966.]
48. Power of forest officer, ;c, to arrest without warrant.
48A. Penalty for being in possession or use of forged documents for counterfeit or unauthorized marking hammers and presumption as to commission of offences.[ 16, 13 of 1966.]
49. Power of forest officer to prevent commission of offence.
49. Penalty for obstructing or interfering with forest officer [11, 56 of 1979.]
50. Operation of other laws not barred.
51. Compounding of offences. [ 17, 13 of 1966.]
52. Presumption that timber or forest produce belongs to State.
53. Offences to be triable summarily. [ 18, 13 of 1966.]
53A. Ejectment from State land. [ 19, 13 of 1966.]
54. Power of forest officer, ;c to seize trespassing cattle.
55. Power of Minister to levy fines.
56. Procedure if fine not paid.
57. Power to shoot cattle on forest plantation.
58. Appointment of Conservator of Forests, ;c.
59. Power of Minister to invest forest officer with certain powers.
60. Forest officers deemed public servants.
61. Indemnity for acts done in good faith.
62. Forest officers not to trade,
63. Control of forest may be delegated to Conservator.
64. Additional powers to make regulations.
65. Powers of Regulations when to have force of law.
66. Powers of Minister exercisable from time to time.
67. Persons bound to assist forest officer and police officer.
68. Recovery of money due to the State.
69. Lien on forest produce for such money.
70. The State not liable for loss or damage in respect of certain timber.
71. Disposal of property seized. [ 20,13 of 1966.]
72. Property of State debtors under section 68 may be sold.
73. Overplus to be restored to owner.
74. Certificate of sale of immovable property
75. Certificate of sale in case of purchase by State.
76. State may take credit for amount due from defaulter.
77. Regulations and rules to be laid before Parliament.
78. Interpretation.