The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) Yes. The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development as well as the Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board have planned to commence several new industrial zones.

¶ 03 (ii) The Ministry is already developing infrastructure in the A’lutheppola, Dambulla, Sandamalgama, Sooriyawewa and Raigama industrial zones, with the expectation of completing development by end of 2025. Further, several specialized industrial zones have been identified for sector-based manufacturing.

¶ 04 Planned new zones covering approximately 370 acres across nine locations—Ragama Millaniya (Phase I), Valachchenai, Puliankulam, Arachchikattuwa, Thihagoda, Mawathagama, Elayapattuwa and Bingiriya—are to be developed under the Ministry. We also plan to commence an industrial zone at Kankesanthurai.

¶ 05 To maximize productivity in the industrial sector, we expect to allocate plots in industrial zones to at least 50 investors over the next few years.

¶ 06 Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board: Six industrial estates are planned—Alpitiya (Galle), Kamburupitiya (Matara), Weeraketiya (Hambantota), Dodangoda (Kalutara), Pothupitiya (Kandy), and Valachchenai (Batticaloa). Preparatory work such as survey plans, land acquisition and obtaining approvals from relevant institutions is in progress.

¶ 07 (iii) Yes.

¶ 08 (iv) Hon. Speaker, this is a lengthy process. For zones established on lands owned by the Department of the Land Commissioner General, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Land Reforms Commission and Urban Development Authority, the practice has been to commence lease agreement processing after the investor has completed about 75% of construction, and to sign agreements after production starts. Lease documentation is not solely under the Ministry; it must be executed by the land-owning agency. The step-wise process for leases on lands under Divisional Secretaries has 15 stages, which I lay on the Table. To expedite leases already allotted but pending formal agreements, we will hold mobile service sessions at zone level, coordinating all relevant state institutions and the land-owning agency together with all zone investors. We have already issued 206 lease permits; 176 remain to be processed.

¶ 09 (v) Yes. An Investor Facilitation Committee has been established within the Ministry. Based on its recommendations, we aim to allocate land within 22 days and to issue lease permits within 62 days. The necessary procedures and proposals have been formulated.

¶ 10 (vi) Upon Cabinet being informed and approval obtained for the Committee’s recommendations and monitoring, we will implement the process, targeting 22 days initially and ultimately up to 62 days, thereby shortening current timelines.

¶ 11 (b) Does not arise.