State sugar firm to seek investors for two tourism PPPs

Wednesday, 20 August 2025 12:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In a bid to boost income of the State-run Pelwatte and Sevanagala sugar factories, which are under Lanka Sugar Ltd., the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved calling for expressions of interest (EoIs) from private investors to set up two tourism projects under a public-private-partnership (PPP) model.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said it has been identified that four selected places in the Pelwatte sugar factory premises are tourist attraction places drawing special attention to eco-tourism, agro-tourism, wellness tourism and conservation-based tourism, based on the recommendations of the feasibility study conducted by the Public-Private Partnership National Agency.

In addition, he said four places of the Sevanagala sugar factory could also be developed with the objective of being a tourist attraction, without specifying the areas identified.

“We have to find income generating methods for them,” Dr. Jayatissa said, responding to a question posed regarding the loss-making Lanka Sugar Ltd. properties. He acknowledged that already the Government has allocated a large sum of funds to revive the properties, adding that the new initiative is also part of it.

Dr. Jayatissa said the Government is open for discussion regarding proposals, noting that no decision has been made whether to extend lands for these proposed tourism projects. The joint proposal to this effect was submitted by Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath and Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunneththi.