No state lands for tourism development - Trinco DCC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 February 2003, 17:58 GMT]
The Trincomalee District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) has decided not to encourage foreign investment in the development of tourism in the east port town by granting state land. The decision was taken at the DCC meeting held Tuesday at the district secretariat on a suggestion by the Trincomalee district parliamentarian Mr.R.Sampanthan.

Mr.Sampanthan said foreign investors could purchase lands in the district instead of expecting state lands, sources said.

Mr.Sampanthan said state lands in the Trincomalee district should be preserved for the future development projects of the district. Furthermore landless people in the district and the second generation of the families who got lands in the new settlements in the district more than a decade ago should be provided with lands for living, he stressed

Mr.Sampanthan expressed his stand when it was brought to the notice of the DCC that twenty five acres of state lands with coconut trees belonging to the Coconut Cultivation Board is to be released for a foreign investor for a tourist development project in the Nilaveli area.

Mr.Sampanthan, who is also co-chairmen of the DCC, presided over the meeting, which was attended by parliamentarians Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, national list MP of the Tamil National Alliance, Mr.M.K.A.de. S Gunawardene of the Peoples Alliance, Government Agent Mr.N.P.K. Nelumdeniya and local heads of government and provincial departments.

Members of the State armed forces and police also attended the meeting, sources said.