News Today: Sri Lanka to launch 2025 initiative for underutilised government lands private investment projects in agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy.

The Sri Lankan government has announced a strategic plan to invite private sector investments — including those from Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) — to develop underutilised lands owned by government institutions into economically viable projects.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday (12), Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa highlighted that the initiative will primarily target lands and properties managed by key state entities, including the Land Reform Commission, Divisional Plantation Companies, National Livestock Development Board, Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation, and the Janatha Estates Development Board.

The proposal, introduced as part of the 2025 national budget, aims to unlock the potential of idle land resources and channel them into diverse investment opportunities. Priority sectors for development include plantation and agricultural activities, tourism linked to plantation regions, livestock development, renewable energy projects such as hydropower and solar power generation, industrial production, and freshwater fisheries. The plan also encourages other innovative economic ventures related to plantation land use.

Dr. Jayatissa emphasized that this policy is designed to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and foster regional development by leveraging unused government land for productive purposes. By opening the door to both local and international private investors, the government expects to maximize land productivity and contribute significantly to the country’s GDP.

The Cabinet spokesman also noted that transparent selection processes will be implemented to ensure that investment proposals align with sustainable development goals and environmental considerations, preventing overexploitation while promoting long-term value creation.

This move is expected to create new avenues for SMEs to expand their operations while attracting large-scale investors capable of introducing advanced technology and expertise into the targeted sectors.