SLR arable land to be leased to farmers

Irangika Range

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said arable land in the Nuwara Eliya district belonging to Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) would be leased to farmers for one year to cultivate crops.

He said several plots of unused land belonging to the SLR in Ambewela, Pattipola and Nanuoya would be leased out as a pilot project.

Minister Welgama was addressing those who had occupied SLR land illegally at a meeting at Shri Somananda temple in Ambewela recently.

The minister requested Grama Niladhari officers and Divisional Secretaries in these areas to collect details of squatters and unauthorised occupants of these lands.

Plans will be made to lease these lands to farmers and those who have already started cultivation in lands, Welgama said.

"No proper permanent structure would be allowed in these lands as these will be used to expand railway lines in the future," he said.

A large number of people have illegally occupied large extent of lands belonging to the SLR during the past 30-40 years. Some occupants had constructed buildings illegally in lands belonging to the SLR across the country, the minister said.