Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-01-17

Taking over of the Land leased to the US Embassy at Iranawila

- A block of land at Iranawila situated in the Puttalam District, in extent of 166.038 Hectares had been leased out to the Embassy of the United States in 1991, to establish a radio transmission station 'the Voice of America' in Sri Lanka. The US Embassy has informed its intention to close down the radio transmission station and handover the land and other assets/properties back to the Government of Sri Lanka before the expiry of the lease period. As such, the proposal made by Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Prime Minister, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, for the government to terminate the relevant Lease Agreement and take over the land and other assets/properties found in the premises, was approved by the Cabinet.