The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation

Jathika Jana balawegaya· Anuradhapura· 22 May 2025 ·Oral question: Oral Question: Grant of Lands by Mahaweli Authority for Large-Scale Projects (Q.1/2025)

Land & Housing

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The Deputy Minister, responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, stated that Mahaweli Authority lands for investment projects are identified through land-use planning and released on long-term lease under the State Lands Ordinance after tender or approved discretionary selection and required committee, board, and ministerial approvals. He said no land had been released to Dole Lanka in the Chandrika Wewa Division of the Walawa Region, while 39 acres in two plots had been leased to Vita Organi for a banana cultivation project. He maintained that the proper procedure had been followed in alienating these lands.

Verbatim record (translated)

Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, I provide the answer.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Answer to (a)(i) tabled.

¶ 03 According to the Land Use Plan of the Authority, lands identified for projects are duly evaluated and released on long-term lease under the provisions of the State Lands Ordinance to suitable investors identified for those projects. When planning lands administered by the Mahaweli Authority, the Land Use Planning Division first identifies investment lands set aside for investment projects. Thereafter, suitable investors are invited through public advertisements under the tender procedure.

¶ 04 Projects that are nationally significant or of special importance may be selected on a discretionary basis in accordance with the provisions of the law. The necessary approvals for such projects are obtained from the Zonal Physical Planning Committee and the Investment Lands Approval Committee. Upon obtaining these approvals, and after Board approval to release the relevant land on lease, the Minister in charge grants lease approval under the State Lands Ordinance to effect the long-term lease.

¶ 05 Process: - Identification of investment lands by the Land Use Planning Division - Calling for expressions of interest/tender process via newspaper advertisements - Selection of nationally/significantly important projects on a discretionary basis as permitted - Approvals by the Zonal Physical Planning Committee and Investment Lands Approval Committee (comprised of officials from Agriculture, Economic, Finance and Development sectors) - Board approval - Ministerial lease approval and release of land

¶ 06 (ii) No land has been released to Dole Lanka in the Chandrika Wewa Division of the Walawa Region. A total of 39 acres, in two plots, has been given to Vita Organi for a banana cultivation project.

¶ 07 (iii) The Mahaweli Authority has followed the proper procedure in alienating lands for projects.

¶ 08 (b) Not applicable.

Provenance

Source: Hansard, Thursday, 22 May 2025 ·No. 1750307293077610 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 22 May 2025. No. 1750307293077610. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/24495