Govt gives nod for construction of luxury tourist camps in Yala

Jan 26, 2017 (LBO) – The cabinet has approved additional land of 155 perches on 50 year lease basis to construct luxury tourist camps adjacent to Yala National park, a statement said.

The price of the land adjacent to Yala Block C will be determined by the Chief Valuer with approvals needed from the Department of Coast Conservation, Coastal Resources Management, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

A land of seven acres belonging to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in Palatupana area was earlier allocated for the above purpose to the Wild Coast Lodge (PVT) Ltd in 2012, a venture of MJF Holdings.

The land was initially assigned based on a memorandum submitted by the former government’s Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and later approved by the then cabinet following approval from the SLTDA.

The project kicked off in 2015 but due to complications had requested an additional extent of land to proceed with their original project.

The proposal was made by John Amaratunge, minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs. MJF Holdings expects to open the resort in 2017, according to its website.