Supreme Court on Wednesday (20) decided to lift the restraining order on the government’s plans to return 818 acres of land at Sampur original owners.

The bench was comprised Chief Justice K. Sripavan, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena and Upali Abeyrathne.

The gazette notification issued by the President releasing state land to the people in Sampur was suspended on May 15 by the Supreme Court. The President, through this gazette notification released the land held by the Board of Investment (BOI) leased to Sri Lanka Gateway Industries (SLGI).

The restraining order was given in a case filed by the Singapore-based Sri Lanka Gateway Industries (SLGI). In 2013 the land in question was allotted to SLGI by the Board of Investment (BOI) for the purpose of setting up an industrial zone to attract US$ 4 billion in investment. But the project was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile several residents of Sampur had begun a hunger strike demanding the government to return their lands, local media reported today.