Steps are being taken to review all stalled Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) investment projects including the Kalpitiya island projects to identify the concerns of investors and surrounding communities in order to take appropriate corrective measures, the authority reveals.
Speaking to the Sunday Morning Business, SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam stated that several SLTDA investment projects including the Kalpitiya island projects had failed to take off due to opposition from surrounding communities.
He further explained that the authority had commenced a review of all such stalled investment projects, evaluating the handing over process, the capabilities of the investors, and the concerns of communities.
Hewawasam added: “We are reviewing each project. In case the developer, without any fair reason, has failed to carry out any development after being handed over the land, we will take action.
“We are currently in the process of reviewing this matter, as it has been of significant concern. On one hand, there is a need for new investments to help build the hotels and properties. On the other hand, we need to develop certain lands for local communities, ensuring we have a balanced mix of community-based tourism and investment-based tourism.”
He further stated that in terms of agreements entered into with prospective investors, they were required to complete the development within a specific period of time, failing which the SLTDA would be entitled to take back the land.
However, he clarified that before taking such steps, all investors would be given a fair hearing to raise their concerns, if any.
Hewawasam added that it was not equitable to penalise the investor for delays arising from communities’ opposition to the project and that all such concerns should have been addressed by Government authorities prior to granting the specific land to the investor.
He further pointed out that the Government had a responsibility to establish an investment-friendly approval process. However, he opined that the Government also had a duty to ensure that, whatever the investment, the concerns of the community were addressed first in order to ensure its acceptance and cooperation with the proposed investment project.
Furthermore, Hewawasam noted that it appeared that under previous regimes, the SLTDA had haphazardly fast-tracked the investment process of many projects, including the Kalpitiya island projects, without adequate consideration for the needs and issues of surrounding communities.
“In the Kalpitiya area, the main livelihood is fishing. There are certain islands that are used seasonally for fishing as well as for drying fish. There are several tourist developments in Kalpitiya already.
“However, when it comes to the islands, in my personal opinion and that of certain Government authorities, we must ensure that communities are not forgotten while making certain that these communities are part and parcel of the local tourism economy being developed.”
