• Prospective investors show interest in Trinco, Pasikudah, Batticaloa
• Discussions at early stage, focus on accommodation-related projects
• SLTDA seeks AG’s advice on stalled Kalpitiya island developments
• Investors told to meet timelines or face legal action, land recovery

Several prospective investors have expressed an interest in undertaking tourism-related projects in the Eastern Province, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reveals.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam stated that several tourism-related investments were in the pipeline in the province, particularly in the Trincomalee, Pasikudah, and Batticaloa regions.

He further clarified that these investments were those related to tourism accommodation.

Hewawasam added: “We are still having the initial-level discussions. Investors are asking for a certain extent of land. Based on that, they will be submitting their proposals for the next level. We are still in the process of evaluating feasibility and the land plots that we will give them.”

Accordingly, he claimed that it was too early to provide any specifics on the extent of these investments.

Commenting on the stalled Kalpitiya island projects, he stated that prospective investors had been urged to commence the projects without delay and further disclosed that the Attorney General’s Department had been consulted on how to proceed.

He further stated that it was not possible to provide a general deadline because each project was unique.

“In each project, they would have [initially] given us a project proposal, which is how the lands will be released for the tourism projects. Since those timelines have now lapsed, we were asking them what their plan is in relation to these lapsed projects, including what the particular deadline for building is and whether the proposal is still valid. Based on answers to these questions alone, we will be taking legal action.”

Accordingly, Hewawasam stated that investors involved in the Kalpitiya projects would be required to demonstrate commencement of development on a specified date. 

Failure to do so or citing an indefinite timeline will prompt the SLTDA to demand the fixing of a definite timeline or to initiate appropriate legal measures to reclaim the lands leased to such prospective investors.