November 24, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has pressed officials for clarity on how land is being allocated for the development of new aerodrome facilities, noting that the valuations used in these transactions appear to bear little relation to actual market prices.
During the session, CoPF Chair Dr Harsha de Silva drew particular attention to land acquired for an aerodrome linked to Bandaranaike International Airport.
He pointed out that the Civil Aviation Authority is reportedly paying only Rs. 50,000 per hectare, despite property in the surrounding area fetching around Rs. 1 million per perch—an enormous disparity that, he argued, cannot be overlooked.
Dr de Silva urged the authorities to reassess their procedures to ensure that landowners are treated fairly and that the State’s own financial interests are not compromised.
Members of the committee suggested that a transparent valuation mechanism should be introduced, given the strategic importance of airport expansion and the rising pressure on land near major infrastructure hubs.
