The government is planning to allow the lands that belong to the Sri Lanka Railway Department for agricultural activities on short term basis.

The decision was announced at the weekly cabinet meeting today.

The cabinet spokesman said the total extent of the reserved lands belong to the Sri Lanka Railway Department is approximately 14,000 acres, and around 10% of this has been leased for various purposes. 

It has been identified that it is appropriate for leasing out those reserve lands located along the railway lines and railway stations which are suitable for cultivation and not those plots which are immediately required for development activities of the Railway Department.

Accordingly, the proposal presented by the Highways Minister was approved by the cabinet ministers to provide these lands for agricultural purposes.

These lands will be provided on a lease basis for a period of one year while prioritizing the cultivators who are already engaged in cultivation in the relevant areas, residents near railway tracks and low-income earners. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)