Business · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lanka to lease 15 plantation estates to attract foreign investment
The government has announced plans to lease 15 plantation properties to private investors as part of efforts to revitalize the country's struggling estate sector. The move aims to boost productivity and generate revenue for the state.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Sri Lanka's authorities have unveiled a leasing programme targeting 15 plantation properties across the island, seeking to attract domestic and foreign investment to the historically significant but economically strained tea and rubber estates.
The initiative represents a shift in how the government manages its vast plantation holdings, moving from direct state operation towards private sector participation. Officials contend that bringing in experienced investors could improve operational efficiency, enhance yields, and create employment opportunities in rural communities dependent on the estate economy.
The leasing arrangement is expected to generate additional revenue for the state while allowing investors to modernize facilities and implement contemporary agricultural practices. The properties available for lease span several districts traditionally associated with plantation agriculture.
The move comes amid ongoing efforts by policymakers to strengthen Sri Lanka's agricultural sector amid broader economic pressures. Estate workers and regional stakeholders have expressed interest in seeing the programme structured in ways that protect employment and community interests during any transition period.
Details regarding the lease terms, application process, and investor eligibility criteria are expected to be released through official government channels in the coming weeks.
Photo: A tea plantation near Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka's hill country, November 2007. Vyacheslav Argenberg via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).