The private sector should invest in land held by Mediterranean Film Studios which the Civil Court last month ordered should be returned to the government, the Nationalist Party said.

Spokesman Francis Zammit Dimech said the government should immediately see that the private invested in the site which should be rehabilitated as its potential was enormous.

The court decision was based on the fact that groundrent was not paid for several years, in breach of contract conditions.

The case was instituted by the Director of Lands against Mediterranean Film Studios, who held a large tract of land in Rinella in terms of a contract signed in 1995. The land had been granted on emphyteusis for 65 years.