Sale of land to foreigners banned

Disna Mudalige

Cabinet approval was granted to prohibit the outright sale of lands in Sri Lanka to foreigners, Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the ministry auditorium yesterday, he said this prohibition applies to both state and private lands.

He said new regulations would be brought to the State Land Ordinance and amendments would be brought to the Notaries Ordinance and Registration of Document Ordinance to provision this move.

The minister said even though the outright sale is prohibited, anybody can still lease out land for foreigners.

He said this prohibition is applicable for purchasing of lands for foreign Embassies and High Commissions in Sri Lanka.

Rambukwella said this decision was taken considering the past experiences on foreigners acquiring absolute ownership of lands in the South and in Heritage sites and not putting into full potential for tourism and development activities. The minister said the Cabinet decided to allow the lease of lands on a long term basis without affecting the country's economic development activities.

The proposals were submitted by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W D J Seneviratna and Lands and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon.

This was an implementation of a Budget proposal for 2013.