3,000 Acres For Tourism Investment: Tourism Land Plans Unveiled By SLTDA

COLOMBO (News 1st) -The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) held a media briefing yesterday to outline its transparent process for allocating land to tourism investors, revealing that approximately 3,000 acres have already been identified for crucial development projects across the island. This initiative aims to streamline investment and foster sustainable growth in the country's tourism sector.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe emphasized the timely need to publish details of SLTDA-owned lands that are "clear and ready for investment." He highlighted the SLTDA's role in facilitating tourism infrastructure development, noting their ongoing efforts to acquire suitable lands through legal procedures and make them available to investors.

Ranasinghe provided a brief overview of the premium land areas currently available:

Bentota National Holiday Resort Zone: 24 acres
Kochuveli Beach Resort Zone: 74 acres
Kalpitiya Island Resort Zone:
Baththalangunduwa: 291 acres
Uchchamunai: 1095 acres
Pasikudah National Holiday Resort: 6.5 acres
Dedduwa Lake Resort Area: 1713 acres
Bulanayaya, Pidurangala area: 19 acres
Rasool Thottam, Trincomalee: Approximately 40 acres
Alas Garden, Trincomalee: Approximately 4 acres

He also noted that additional land plots are currently undergoing acquisition processes and will be published once legal clearances are obtained. Information on these land plots is also available on the SLTDA website.

SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam elaborated on the evaluation criteria for prospective investors. He stated that proposals for "world-class tourism ventures" with aspects of sustainability, high-level investment, and diverse tourist attractions will be evaluated based on their merit.

A key focus of this new approach is to ensure prompt development. Hewawasam acknowledged past issues where allocated lands remained undeveloped for extended periods, hindering investment and tourism accommodation growth. To counteract this, selected investors will be provided with a stipulated development plan and a strict time plan.

Hewawasam highlighted the government's commitment to supporting investors by streamlining the clearance process, a historical obstacle that often involved over 21 different licenses and approvals. The SLTDA's Investment Relations Unit (IRU), with its scoping committee and "one-stop-shop" concept, aims to facilitate this for international investors, making land banks more investor-friendly.

This initiative is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process. A stabilized committee will continuously evaluate proposals in a transparent manner. The SLTDA is also actively acquiring more government lands in areas like Batticaloa and Seastone to further expand their investment-friendly land bank. This announcement marks the initial step in this comprehensive process, with immediate implementation following the briefing.