Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2011-04-27

Land Alienation Policy to Promote Development Activities of the Government

- on a joint proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management; Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development; and Hon. Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, Minister of Lands and Land Development, Cabinet approval was granted to streamline the procedure of land alienation / disposition so as to ensure that there is a consistent policy on the extent of land that would be made available by the Government and Government Agencies to specific sectors, in the national interest. Under the proposed procedure -

* land alienation for agricultural purposes will be strictly on lease basis for a period not exceeding 35 years;
* land alienation for industrial purposes will also be strictly on lease basis for a period not exceeding 35 years;
* land alienation for tourism will be on the basis of 99 year lease and the extent of land will be 30 acres or less; and
* in case of land required for agricultural or industrial purpose on investments over US $20 million, a suitable long term tenure will be considered.