Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has instructed officials to treat the cleaning of Colombo’s canal and drainage systems as an exceptional priority, directing that the work be expedited and completed within the next two weeks to ensure proper rainwater management amid anticipated increases in rainfall.
The Prime Minister issued these directives while addressing the Colombo District Coordinating Committee meeting held on October 13 at the Narahenpita District Secretariat. During the meeting, divisional secretariat offices, the Agrarian Development Department, and the Provincial Irrigation Department highlighted existing challenges in cleaning drainage and canal systems, noting issues such as a shortage of technical officers and difficulties faced in formulating plans and estimates.
The committee also reviewed the development programmes scheduled for the Colombo district for 2026, which focus on key areas including rural road development, community empowerment, disaster management and the promotion of a sports culture. Under the 2026 rural road development program structured across three phases, development activities are set to cover divisions such as Colombo, Thimbirigasyaya, Kotte, Homagama, Padukka and Kesbewa in the first phase,and Kesbewa, Maharagama, Dehiwala, Ratmalana, Moratuwa and Kolonnawa in the second phase. Officials noted that several projects launched in 2025 in Thimbirigasyaya, Kolonnawa and Seethawaka have already been fully completed.
Additionally, under the poverty alleviation national programme “Praja Shakthi,” a total allocation of Rs. 1,117.53 million has been set aside for 2026, with Rs. 1,108.00 million distributed among 13 divisional secretariat offices to provide equipment for agriculture, freshwater fisheries and small-scale businesses, while the remaining funds are designated for special projects. Disaster mitigation projects will focus on river cleaning and pathway development in Homagama, Seethawaka and Maharagama. Furthermore, Rs. 4 million has been allocated to develop school and public playgrounds across 39 divisional secretariat divisions, distributing Rs. 300,000 each to uplift grounds in Dehiwala, Maharagama, Homagama and Thimbirigasyaya. Officials also reported ongoing development work on temples, playgrounds, and court buildings through various ministries, including the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs; Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment; Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Justice.
Reviewing the decentralized capital budget for the Colombo district, officials stated that 281 projects have been approved for 184,775 beneficiary families with a total allocation of Rs. 217.38 million comprising Rs. 180.00 million in MP allocations and Rs. 37.38 million in national list MP allocations against a total estimated cost of Rs. 217.03 million. The physical progress breakdown of the 281 approved projects includes 8 projects in the process of drafting estimates, 5 with completed estimates, 21 quoted, 9 under evaluation, 17 awarded to contractors, 51 initiated or up to 25% completed, 9 between 25% and 50% completed, 7 between 50% and 75% completed, 17 between 75% and 99% completed, 93 physically completed awaiting payment, and 44 fully completed both physically and financially. Total financial expenditures recorded stood at Rs. 21.647 million for project costs and Rs. 0.334 million for administrative expenses, bringing total expenditures to Rs. 21.981 million. (Newswire)