### Tourism Land Leasing Model Risks Repeating Kalpitiya Failures 📈

A new policy brief by the Centre for a Smart Future warns that the government’s plan to lease 3,000 acres of coastal land for tourism development faces significant structural risks, mirroring the stalled Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Program (KITRP). • The Kalpitiya Precedent: Launched in 2010 to create 4,000 rooms and up to 18,000 jobs, the project remains largely unbuilt after 15 years. Multiple island leases signed in 2010 have seen no construction due to regulatory hurdles and community disputes. • Infrastructure & Resource Gaps: Water: Only 54% of daily demand is met, leaving a shortfall of 3.5 million litres. Waste: The region generates 132 metric tons of waste daily, but facilities handle only 5 tons. Health: The local 40-bed hospital lacks specialist doctors, undermining high-end hospitality standards. • Environmental & Governance Concerns: 79% of EIAs failed to explain the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Environmental clearances currently take 6–9 months, leading to capital being tied up in idle land. Fragile ecosystems, including low-lying islands and poor mangrove survival rates (18-22%), threaten long-term viability. • Market Mismatch: While the state promotes high-end luxury models, current visitors to areas like Kalpitiya are primarily sports-oriented (kite surfers) and budget eco-tourists, leading to weak demand for luxury overwater bungalows. • Recommendations: Experts urge a "pre-leasing diagnostic framework" to assess infrastructure readiness and community acceptance before further land is allocated to the travel & leisure sector. _Note: Summary based on a policy brief by researchers Ashanee Kottage and Tehani Chandrasena Perera._