Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena (03) said in Polonnaruwa that permission will be given for short-term crop cultivation in railway reserves.
The minister said that it will be given under the tax concession system and thus one hundred rupees will be charged for a perch per year.
The minister said this while attending a mobile service program held at Polonnaruwa Pulatisi Chandra Mandapa regarding the existing problems related to railway reserves in Tamankaduwa Divisional Secretariat of Polonnaruwa District.
“The President and the Prime Minister, we all in the cabinet took a decision. Due to the urgent need for cultivation during this food crisis, we will give to the farmers’ organizations for short-term crop cultivation the railway reserve on lease basis, where we charge one hundred rupees per perch per year and if ten perches are leased, Rs.1000/.
you can only grow it for a year, only short term crops, no constructions not even a hut is allowed . crops like chillies. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, other crops that grow in the dry region. Go and meet the regional secretary and talk to him and implement this.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport further said that it is hoped to add several tourist train journeys from Colombo to several areas in order to develop the tourism industry.
The minister also gave tax licenses to the people who are currently residing in the railway reserves.
