The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has clarified the reasons for the ongoing construction work along Baseline Road, attributing delays to difficulties in identifying existing underground utility networks.
Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar said the construction is part of two major underground sewerage development projects in Kirulapone and Kirula–Narahenpita, being implemented under the Greater Colombo Water and Wastewater Management Improvement Investment Programme at a combined investment of approximately Rs. 25 billion.
According to the Mayor, the Kirulapone project, valued at approximately Rs. 14.5 billion, is funded by the Government of Sri Lanka, while the Kirula–Narahenpita project, valued at approximately Rs. 10 billion, is supported by the European Investment Bank.
The projects aim to establish underground sewerage networks to collect wastewater from residential properties and transport it through pipelines to pumping stations for proper management and safe disposal.
Explaining the delays along Baseline Road, the Mayor said one of the main challenges has been locating existing underground infrastructure, including electricity cables, water supply pipelines, telecommunications cables and stormwater drainage systems.
She said the CMC has been coordinating with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), Dialog and other service providers to identify these utilities.
However, despite employing various technical methods, locating certain underground services has proven difficult, slowing construction activities.
The Mayor explained that excavation cannot proceed without accurately identifying these utilities, as accidental damage could disrupt essential services and pose serious safety risks.
The CMC aims to complete the pipeline construction work along Baseline Road by December 2026, although the broader sewerage development projects will continue beyond that date.
The Mayor further revealed that the Kirulapone project, which commenced in 2017, was suspended in 2022 due to the economic crisis. Construction resumed in October 2025 after funding and payment-related issues were resolved under the current government.
Meanwhile, 26 households in the project areas, including those near the Kalinga Mawatha sewerage pumping station, have been temporarily relocated as a safety precaution.
The affected families have been provided rental assistance to secure alternative accommodation and will be permitted to return once the relevant construction work is completed.
The Mayor also assured that sections of Thalakotuwa Gardens Road damaged during construction would be restored upon completion of the necessary work.
She added that the projects are being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, while supervision is being carried out directly by CMC staff without a separate external supervision institution.
The Kirulapone sewerage project is expected to be completed by December 2027, while the Kirula–Narahenpita project is scheduled for completion by August 2028.
Acknowledging the inconvenience caused by road excavations and traffic disruptions, the Mayor thanked residents and motorists for their patience, emphasising that the projects are essential to improving Colombo’s long-term wastewater management infrastructure. (Newswire)