Trincomalee land release plan

10-Jul-2026

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The Sri Lankan Government is implementing a permanent land management programme to release lands owned by families who lived in protected areas of Trincomalee before 1985 or provide them with alternative lands, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament on July 8.

Responding to a question raised by ITAK MP K. Kugathasan during the Prime Minister's Question Time, she said the programme covers protected areas, including the Naval Headquarters, Periya Sober, Siriya Sober, Seruvila Allai, Trikonamadu and Puraath Island, situated within 33,563 acres under the Forest Department and 31,627 acres under the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The Prime Minister also said 15 of the district's 210 abandoned tanks and eight of 25 abandoned anicuts have been rehabilitated, while the remaining tanks and anicuts will be restored. Delays were attributed to land transfer issues and inadequate funding.

She added that 195 tanks and 17 anicuts located within forest and wildlife reserves are being released through the relevant Divisional Secretariats to facilitate agricultural activities. The Government expects the land release programme, already underway in several districts including Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Batticaloa and Anuradhapura, to boost paddy cultivation and national rice production.