• Focused on ease of doing business; land-related barriers in industrial/tourism/agri. sectors to be cleared 

The Government is working to streamline the land allocation mechanism to improve the ease of doing business in Sri Lanka, clearing barriers in land-related issues in the industrial sector, said the Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Dr. Susil Ranasinghe.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (11), he highlighted the need to address the gap between land allocation and the country’s economic interests. 

"Our land sector mechanism has many shortcomings. It is not aligned with the country’s economic policies, and this needs to be resolved to clarify certain issues,” he stated.

Ranasinghe also noted that certain land-related laws and mechanisms that directly affect sectors like tourism need to be amended. He stressed the importance of minimising complexities in this sector to attract more investors.

“There are many lands across the island that are unused. In such cases, we can allocate these lands to individuals who wish to invest in them for agricultural or industrial purposes,” he explained.

He further pointed out that the country lacks a proper data system regarding land, which complicates the decision-making process. “We don’t have an effective data system or information to guide our land related decisions. As a result, we struggle to determine the appropriate use for specific lands. While we have identified certain lands, we lack the detailed data needed to make informed decisions. Therefore, these issues must be addressed promptly to enhance the ease of doing business,” he added.