The Stadiumgama Housing Complex, comprising 1,000 housing units built for low‑income urban residents of Colombo, has been fully completed and will be vested with the public in September, the Ministry of  Urban Development announced.

Located at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, Colombo 14, the project was implemented under the Urban Development Authority (UDA) with financial assistance from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) at a cost of Rs. 9,850 million.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara carried out a field inspection of the premises yesterday (16) to review facilities ahead of residents moving in. 

The complex, built across four blocks (A, B, C, D) with 14 floors, includes a community hall, day‑care center, pre‑school, medical center, Grama Niladhari office, police post, service and maintenance unit, children’s park, public market, and 20 shops for business activities.

Speaking during the inspection, Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara said that housing units will be allocated to the most suitable beneficiaries without political, ethnic, religious, or regional discrimination, in line with government policy. (Newswire)

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The Urban Development Ministry has announced that Anuradhapura, Kataragama, Kandy, and Colombo have been chosen for the first phase of the City Branding project, aimed at boosting tourism appeal through structured branding initiatives.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara chaired discussions yesterday (01) on the initial report prepared by four consultancy firms selected under the tender process. 

These firms have already conducted site inspections, engaged with local communities, and held talks with administrative institutions to design tailored branding programs for each city.

The project is expected to enhance the visibility of key urban centers and strengthen their identity as tourist destinations, marking a significant step in Sri Lanka’s broader urban development strategy. (Newswire)

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The 12‑storey Kolonnawa Housing Complex, comprising 624 housing units, has been completed, the Ministry of Urban Development has announced.

The housing complex has been built with financial assistance from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) at a cost of Rs. 5,784 million.

According to the Ministry of Urban Development, all arrangements have been finalized to vest the project with the public. 

Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, visited the site this week to inspect the completed facilities. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Urban Development has launched a Rs. 218 million programme to maintain and rehabilitate 31 canal roads and associated water systems across several flood‑prone areas.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, who inspected ongoing projects in Kolonnawa, Kelaniya, Mattakkuliya, Meethotamulla and Kotikawatta‑Mulleriyawa, said all works are scheduled for completion before October 2026.

The initiative aims to reduce flood risk, accelerate water drainage, safeguard the urban environment, and provide long‑term, sustainable solutions to recurring flood hazards.

The programme is being jointly implemented by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, the Urban Development Authority, the Colombo Municipal Council and provincial councils. (Newswire

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Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara says an audit by the National Youth Services Council shows the former government spent Rs. 323 million for 14 concerts conducted under its Smart Youth Night programme in 2024.

Addressing the media, Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara said, per the audit report, a concert was held in the vicinity of the Colombo Lotus Tower on 31st December 2023 for a cost of Rs. 22 million, an event the NPP had previously raised concerns over its funding.

He alleged that, as per the audit report, it had been found that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Sports Minister Harin Fernando had misused the National Youth Services Council for their personal political agendas. 

“At a time when the youth of this nation were suffering due to the economic crisis and attempting to leave the nation, these concerts were held. In 2024, the then government decided they must introduce the Smart Youth Night to every district, to promote their political agendas,” he said. 

Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara said the audit report also reveals that the then government had failed to follow proper procedures and had failed to call for tenders when hosting the events. 

“Once the NPP Government was elected to power we received a comprehensive report on the Smart Youth Night programme. It was found that Rs. 323 million was spent for 14 concerts. Several of the bills are back-dated. They have spent first and then back-dated the bills, after which it has been sent to the relevant organizations,” he said. 

The Deputy Minister pointed out that even though the National Youth Services Council was established to build the youth of the nation, it had only been utilised to attract the children of former state leaders for political projects of the former government.

Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara noted that the audit report has confirmed that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Sports Minister Harin Fernando had misused the National Youth Services Council.

The audit report, along with all recommendations, has been forwarded to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, while Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara has instructed a formal investigation into this revelation.

Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara added that in the first week of January, the Cabinet of Ministers will decide on establishing an investigation unit to probe the misuse of money at all state institutions, including all ministries, during the tenure of the previous governments. (Newswire)

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