Land sale!

The Government has decided to handover the city lands acquired under the contentious Revival Act to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the rest to be advertised for private sector.

The modalities were discussed this week at the first ever meeting of Competent Authorities appointed for 37 enterprises that came under the Act.

Sources said that apart from the lands in and around Colombo which will be assigned to the UDA, the rest would be opened up for competitive bidding with Request for Proposals (RFPs) sought from the private sector. Connected advertisements are likely to appear next week.

Previously the Government officials had said that existing owners would be given an opportunity to submit proposals though there has been no specific statement.

Among Competent Authorities who attended the meeting were Tuly Cooray, Kalinga Indatissa, Senaka Walgampaya, Hambantota District Secretary, Monaragala District Secretary, and Badulla District Secretary.

The Cabinet appointed Ministerial Sub Committee and an Officials’ Committee consisting of six officials to ensure the overall monitoring of the related aspects in a timely manner also attended. The Ministerial Sub Committee comprises Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa as Chair, Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera, Minor Export Crop Promotion Minister Reginald Cooray, Productivity Promotion Minister Lakshman Seneviratne and Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena.

Under the Revival Act, enterprises which have lands in the city and suburbs include Charmers Granaries property at Pettah, Land of former Cashew Corporation in Colpetty adjoining Shaw Wallace, Lanka Tractors Ltd.’s two properties at Pettah and Narahenpita, Ceylinco Leisure Properties Ltd. land in Colpetty, Intertrade Lanka Pvt. Ltd., D.R. Wijewardena Mw (Currently Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre) and Needle Crafts Pvt. Ltd., land in Kolonnawa.

These are among enterprises included in the Schedule II of the Act and classified as Underutilised assets.

Others are Pelwatte Sugar Industries Ltd., land in extent of 6,300 hectares, Sevangala Sugar Industries Ltd. land amounting to 29 different lots, Sinotex (Lanka) Pvt. Ltd., land in Katunayake BOI FTZ, Jaqalanka Pvt Ltd., land in Katunayake BOI FTZ, Plymouth Industries Pvt. Ltd. land, in Katunayake BOI FTZ, Cosmos Macky Industries Pvt. Ltd. land in Katunayake BOI FTZ, Kabool Lace Pvt. Ltd., Kurunegala District, Suchi NEB Projects Pvt. Ltd., in Kaduwela, Seetha’s Fashion in Polonnaruwa District, DC Apparel Pvt. Ltd., in Kandy District, Needle Crafts Pvt. Ltd., land in Kolonnawa, HV Fashion Garments Pvt. Ltd. land in Kegalle District, Collins Garment Pvt. Ltd., in Anuradhapura District, Ruhunu Putha Apparels Pvt. Ltd., in Monaragala District, Sanjaya Garments Pvt. Ltd. in Ratnapura District, Macfa Apparel Pvt. Ltd. land in Ampara District, Yobeedha Associates Pvt. Ltd. in Hambantota District, Dynamic Clothing Pvt. Ltd. land in Hambantota District, 609 Polymers Exports Pvt. Ltd. land in Seethawaka Industrial Park, Cosco Polymer Lanka Pvt. Ltd. land in Seethawaka Industrial Park, Great Wall Thread Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. land in Seethawaka Industrial Park, Adamjee Extractions Pvt. Ltd. land in Horana, Data Food Pvt. Ltd. land in Horana, Tendon Lanka Pvt. Ltd. land in Kandy Industrial Park, Rican Lanka Pvt. Ltd. land in Gampaha District, Composite Tower Solutions Pvt. Ltd., land in Mirigama Export Processing Zone, Health Food Products Pvt. Ltd. land in Mirigama Export Processing Zone, Sri Chirag Pvt. Ltd. land in Gampaha District, Royale Exports Pvt. Ltd. land in Mirigama Export Processing Zone and Continental Vanaspathi Pvt. Ltd., land in Gampaha District.

Last week the Cabinet approved the appointment of Competent Authorities (CA) for the 37 companies that were listed in the takeover bill. Accordingly Lawyer Kalinga Indatissa is CA for Lanka Tractors Limited, which has properties situated at Pettah and Narahenpita, Charmers Granaries (property situated at Pettah), Ceylinco Leisure Properties Ltd. (properties situated at Kollupitiya, Colombද 3) and Inter trade Lanka (private) Limited with assets situated at Fort.

CA for Hotel Developers Lanka PLC is Senaka Walgampaya, Hambantota District Secretary is CA for Pelwatte Sugar Industries, while Monaragala District Secretary is CA for Sevanagala Sugar Industries Ltd. Badulla District Secretary is CA for Colombo Commercial Company Limited (Badulla Property) and, Tuly Cooray is CA for all the remainder of Under Utilized assets.

Appointment of a three- member Compensation Tribunal under the chairmanship of the Chief Government Valuer was also approved by the Cabinet.