The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development
The Minister tabled a written answer with annexes on the Lanka Sathosa Super Market Complex in Kilinochchi, stating that the building and land use had received the required approvals from relevant land, local authority and urban development bodies. He reported that construction used Lanka Sathosa/CWE-related funds, with total recorded expenditure of Rs. 272,721,536.71, and noted Cabinet and Board decisions concerning an additional payment of Rs. 49,634,237.50. He also stated that the complex began operations on 28 July 2015, that parking land issues had been addressed through proposed long-term vesting, and that Lanka Sathosa leased the complex to 9 Complex Company for 10 years from 10 January 2024.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer with annexes.
¶ 02 (a) (i) The building was constructed with all required approvals. Documents tabled include: - Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade letter (18.06.2013) assigning land to Lanka Sathosa; - Northern Province Land Commissioner’s letter (12.06.2013) assigning land to the Ministry; - Commissioner General of Lands letter (11.08.2014) to Karaichchi Divisional Secretary regarding release of land; - Urban Development Authority Building Development Permit (07.05.2014).
¶ 03 (ii) Approval from the Karaichchi Pradeshiya Sabha was duly obtained to construct the Lanka Sathosa Super Market Complex. Additional documents: District Secretariat Kilinochchi letter (26.03.2012) permitting establishment; Karaichchi Divisional Secretary’s vesting certificate transferring legal possession of the land to the Ministry for the Sathosa complex.
¶ 04 (iii) Lanka Sathosa funds were used. As per the Cabinet Memorandum of the then Ministry of Industry and Commerce, construction was carried out for, and through, the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (SATHOSA), with works executed by CWE Construction and Engineering Company. Initial estimate: Rs. 257,758,462.50. An additional Rs. 49,634,237.50 (tax-inclusive) was to be paid to the sub-contractor for extra works. Cabinet decision (15.01.2018) approved payment of the Rs. 49,634,237.50 from the Treasury allocation granted in 2018 for Lanka Sathosa store expansion, and stressed obtaining approvals for rectifying any deficiencies during procurement. The Board (31.01.2018) decided that this Rs. 49,634,237.50 be settled from Lanka Sathosa revenue without burdening the Treasury.
¶ 05 (iv) According to Lanka Sathosa financial records, total expenditure on construction paid to CWE Construction & Engineering, the UDA, and Softlogic Retail (Pvt) Ltd amounts to Rs. 272,721,536.71.
¶ 06 (v) The complex commenced operations on 28.07.2015. The building stands on Lot No. 577, vested by the Karaichchi Divisional Secretary in the Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade for the Sathosa complex. Parking is on Lot No. 618; the Ministry indicated in March 2023 it had no objection to vesting this lot in Lanka Sathosa Ltd for long-term enjoyment, given its continued use by Sathosa.
¶ 07 (b) (i) Yes. Lanka Sathosa has leased the complex to 9 Complex Company for 10 years with effect from 10.01.2024. (ii) Addressed as above regarding long-term use/vesting for the parking lot.
¶ 08 (c) Not applicable.
¶ 09 An additional note: The same question was asked in 2020 by Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan to the then Minister of Trade; that question and answer are attached in the annex.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 22 January 2026 ·No. 23203 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 22 January 2026. No. 23203. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/22447