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Entrepreneurs get 20,000 land plots

04 Mar 2021

A total of 20,000 youth entrepreneurs are to receive lands under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour policy statement, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, Land Ministry Secretary R.A.A.K. Ranawaka said that 435,000 applications had been received in this regard thus far and that the Ministry is planning to give 20,000 lands to youth entrepreneurs before 30 June. “We are preparing the background for the promotion of local and foreign market-oriented products through the strengthening of young entrepreneurs. It is planned to implement a national programme to provide 100,000 investment opportunities. We published an advertisement in the national newspapers, and applications were called for the selection of the most suitable entrepreneurs,“ he added.  In the first round, 20,000 of the most suitable entrepreneurs will be selected from the entries. The process of obtaining applications for the Government Land Allocation Programme for 100,000 young entrepreneurs has been completed. Under the second phase, special committees headed by the relevant divisional secretary will conduct interviews for the applicants, in order to select suitable entrepreneurs at the relevant divisional secretariat level.  According to Ranawaka, the Ministry hopes to give a share of land to those who have the entrepreneurial ability in agriculture, technology, and self-employment. In order to achieve these objectives, the Government has identified lands from every district with the help of the divisional secretaries and seeks to distribute them among the eligible investors. Accordingly, unused lands already owned by the Government, lands measured and distributed by the Government but not used for the aforesaid purposes, and lands suitable for these projects will be selected from government lands along with abandoned buildings that had previously been used for various purposes. According to Ranawaka, selected entrepreneurs under 45 years of age would face an interview with the relevant divisional secretary. “Eligible candidates would develop the land and after two years, the Government would conduct an assessment where the lands are.” It is planned to provide investment opportunities for 100,000 plots of land for 100,000 entrepreneurs selected through interviews (20,000 interviews per annum during the 2021-2025 period). Meanwhile, the Ministry is also in the process of identifying lands for cultivation purposes, Ranawaka said. “We already processed a land survey which will end on 30 April. We hope to identify more lands for cultivation purposes after this,” he added. President Rajapaksa granted permission for farmers to engage in their traditional cultivation activities continuously without any disruption until related issues are resolved. The President arrived at this decision after focusing on issues raised by the farmers who attended the sixth programme under the “Discussion with the Village” series. Officials of the Departments of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, and Environment, the Police, and other institutions were instructed by the President not to disturb traditional cultivation activities. However, the President emphasised that no one is allowed to clear forests anew for cultivation purposes.  


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