247 hectares of government unused land for investors

Cabinet approval has been received for the program to provide state-owned underutilized lands to selected investors and entrepreneurs on a long-term lease basis. Approval was initially granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2026-01-12, to formulate a suitable program to provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs, who have remitted or are currently remitting foreign exchange to the country while engaged in foreign employment, to invest in the plantation sector.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure has prepared the methodology for implementing the relevant program after holding discussions with the relevant parties. According to this methodology, a total of 247 hectares of identified underutilized land have been allocated, comprising 117 hectares owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation, 88 hectares owned by the Janatha Estates Development Board, and 42 hectares owned by Elkaduwa Plantations PLC.

Cabinet approval has been received for the proposal submitted by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure regarding the disposal of the relevant land plots to selected suitable investors on a long-term lease basis. Under this project, the maximum age of an investor is considered to be 50 years. Investment opportunities are available for plantation and agricultural activities, plantation-related tourism promotion, livestock development, hydropower and solar energy generation, factory-related production, freshwater fisheries, and other plantation-related economic innovation sectors.

The amount of underutilized land allocated to each investor selected through a formal procurement process will be a maximum of 1 to 4 hectares. Furthermore, priority under this program will be given to individuals who have been engaged in foreign employment for 3 years or more during the past 10 years, as well as those currently working as foreign laborers for more than 3 years.