2026-02-18 / oral_question: Oral Question Q.1542/2025 - Nagastenna Estate Ownership and Management

Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

2026-02-18
AgricultureLand & Housing

The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure provided detailed answers regarding the Nagastenna Estate in Yatiyantota, a 482.84-hectare property owned by the Janatha Estate Development Board (JEDB). He acknowledged that estate management had been suboptimal due to financial constraints, including a lack of fertilizer, agrochemicals, and replanting activity spanning nearly a decade, though inputs are now being restored. The Minister noted that of 164 resident families, 99 are unauthorized occupants; while legal action has been taken against five external encroachers, no evictions have been carried out against long-standing in-estate unauthorized residents due to social considerations. Approximately 138.26 hectares of underutilized land are being processed for leasing to private investors under a programme to productively utilize underperforming assets.

Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows: (a) (i) The Nagastenna Estate, Yatiyantota, is owned by the Janatha Estate Development Board (JEDB). Its extent is 482.84 hectares. (ii) Management has not been at an optimal level, primarily due to financial constraints leading to non-application of inputs (fertilizer and agrochemicals) and lack of replanting over an extended period—nearly ten years in some JEDB and SLSPC lands. Inputs are now being provided. (iii) There are 164 resident families; 99 are unauthorized occupants. (iv) Legal action has been taken to remove five external encroachers. However, removing long-standing unauthorized in-estate residents poses a social issue; no evictions have been carried out to date for that group. (v) Inputs and management guidance are being provided to improve cultivation. Further, approximately 138.26 hectares identified as suitable but underutilized are being processed for leasing to private investors under the programme for productive use of underutilized assets. (b) Not applicable.