FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has established a dedicated committee aimed at safeguarding the lands in the Eastern Province. This initiative seeks to curtail illegal land acquisitions, enhance tourism, and reclaim government-owned lands that are currently unused, according to official government statements.
The Eastern Province has increasingly become a center of intense social, economic, and administrative conflicts, primarily due to unlawful land appropriations, unauthorized land reclamation activities, and illegal coastal developments that exploit political connections and influence.
Such unlawful activities have significantly harmed the region’s delicate natural ecosystems, leading to accelerated and serious marine erosion along the Eastern coastline.
Additionally, the ongoing geopolitical and social tensions are aggravated by the fact that, even sixteen years after the end of the civil conflict, there has been no effective, long-term resettlement plan for those displaced.
The government outlined in its Cabinet Decisions document that, “A range of social, economic, and administrative challenges have emerged in the Eastern Province as a result of forced and illegal land seizures, unauthorized land reclamation, and coastal constructions that exploit political power and affiliations.”
It further stated, “As a result, the region’s natural ecosystem faces significant threats. These unregulated actions have also been a key factor in the severe marine erosion occurring along the entire Eastern coastline.”
The Cabinet emphasized that despite the passage of 16 years since the civil conflict’s conclusion, the lack of a comprehensive resettlement program and the deviation from established administrative norms have adversely affected regional development and national security.
The Cabinet approved the formation of a committee called ‘Protection of Eastern Province Lands,’ which will include representatives from relevant institutions. This committee is tasked with identifying prompt and sustainable solutions to these issues, enforcing legal regulations, and enhancing institutional collaboration.
Additionally, the Cabinet has authorized the creation of a specialized law enforcement unit, led by a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), endowed with full authority to stop all unauthorized land grabbing and reclamation activities executed through political influence.
Moreover, the Cabinet has decided to reclaim Mahaweli Lands that were appropriated over five years ago and have yet to see any development projects initiated.
There are also plans to redistribute land for local development initiatives aimed at residents, alongside a swift formulation of a structured plan to boost the tourism sector by leveraging the significant potential of the Eastern coastline while ensuring the preservation of the coastal ecosystem.
The government stated, “A mechanism will be established to guarantee that government officials enforce the law in a fair and transparent manner concerning the operation of hotels along the Eastern coastline.”
(Colombo/June 23/2026)
