President Directs Plan to Allocate Underutilised State Land to Returning Migrant Workers
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed relevant authorities to formulate a programme to allocate underutilised State land, along with the necessary project support services, to Sri Lankan migrant workers returning home after completing their overseas employment.
The directive was issued during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (24) to review the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 budget allocations for the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure and to consider the Ministry’s proposals for the 2027 Budget, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
The meeting reviewed the progress of development projects in the plantation and community infrastructure sectors, as well as the performance of institutions under the State plantation companies operating within the Ministry. Discussions also focused on priorities, funding requirements and planned initiatives for 2027.
Officials reviewed key plantation sector programmes implemented under capital allocations of Rs. 1,081 million, including the estate land surveying programme, coconut disease management, the Kapruka Fund, initiatives to increase coconut production and the Northern Coconut Triangle Programme. Progress on infrastructure development in the plantation sector was also assessed.
President Dissanayake stressed the importance of completing the project to construct 10,000 houses for the Malayagam community within the stipulated timeframe and handing them over to beneficiaries without delay.
The President also noted that weaknesses in the implementation of projects funded through foreign grants and loans had resulted in some allocated funds remaining underutilised or being returned.
The discussion further reviewed the relief programme supporting the replanting of tea, coconut and rubber crops damaged by the Ditwah disaster.
Officials informed the meeting that the tea, coconut, rubber, cashew and palmyrah sectors, together with plantation infrastructure development activities, have recorded growth and improved profitability this year compared to the previous year. Six State plantation companies, including Elkaduwa Plantations Limited, Kurunegala Plantations Limited, Chilaw Plantations Limited, the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estates Development Board and Kalubowitiyana Tea Factory Limited, were reported to have made significant progress in improving profitability.
Special attention was also given to crop improvement programmes, research activities conducted by the Tea Research Institute and initiatives supporting the replanting of smallholder tea plantations.
The meeting was informed that around 60,000 hectares of Sri Lanka’s tea cultivation consists of smallholder tea plantations. Of the Rs. 450.06 million allocated in the 2026 Budget for replanting these plantations, Rs. 155.07 million has already been utilised.
President Dissanayake also reviewed the progress of the 500 Tea Villages Programme under the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority and instructed officials to expedite its implementation by integrating it with other grassroots rural development initiatives, including the “Prajashakthi” programme.
The meeting also examined the rubber sector, including the Rs. 137 million allocated to the Rubber Research Institute, progress on rubber replanting and implementation challenges.
In addition, officials reviewed programmes to develop the coconut industry, increase plantation productivity, promote value-added products and improve product quality, as well as initiatives undertaken by the Palmyrah Development Board and the Kithul Development Board.
The discussion revealed that Sri Lanka is expected to produce 18,000 metric tonnes of its annual cashew requirement of 25,000 metric tonnes this year, a significant improvement over last year. Plans to expand cashew cultivation across approximately 15,000 hectares in the Northern and Eastern Provinces were also discussed.
Progress in consolidating plantation sector institutions and implementing Cabinet decisions relating to non-commercial government-owned institutions was also reviewed.
According to the PMD, the meeting further discussed the need to update agreements entered into by previous governments when allocating land to companies.
Emphasising the need for stronger agreements governing the allocation of State-owned land, President Dissanayake instructed that a committee be appointed through the Ministry of Finance to examine the matter.
The President also directed officials to explore offering courses conducted by the National Institute of Plantation Management through universities, in consultation with relevant higher education institutions.
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