The Cabinet of Ministers has awarded the consultancy contract for the feasibility study and preparation of detailed plans to extend the Kelani Valley Railway Line from Avissawella to Ratnapura.

The contract has been awarded to M/s. Resources Development Consultants (Pvt) Ltd at a total cost of Rs. 356.22 million, exclusive of taxes, following the recommendation of the Consultant Procurement Committee.

The decision follows Cabinet approval granted on October 21, 2025, to initiate the study. 

Expressions of interest were called under the national competitive procurement procedure, with eight bidders responding. 

After evaluating technical proposals, financial proposals from four eligible institutions were reviewed before the final selection. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted to implement the third phase of the Baseline Road extension project.

Accordingly, approval was first given at the Cabinet meeting held in November 2009, to construct a 0.86-kilometre stretch of road with six lanes from the Kirulapone junction up to Dutugemunu Street on the Colombo–Horana Road.

However, due to the economic crisis in 2022, the project was temporarily suspended.

Later, under the National Highway Master Plan, this road was identified as a key infrastructure project, and about 90% of the required land acquisition has now been completed.

It is expected that travel time and traffic congestion along the Colombo–Horana Road will be significantly reduced through this extension, while urban mobility and economic productivity will also improve.

Accordingly, Cabinet approval has been granted for the proposal presented by Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake to recommence construction of the third phase of the Baseline Road extension project. (Newswire)

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The Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced that the validity period of passports expiring after 01 July will not be extended by a year, as previously announced. 

According to Daily FT, Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya confirmed that the validity of expired passports cannot be extended by a year.

He further said that the decision has been made after seeking clarification from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in this regard.

“On the possibility of extending the validity of already expired or nearly expired passports, the ICAO said such extensions could pose problems for individuals at border entry points due to the limited advancement of the Sri Lankan passport,”  Harsha Ilukpitiya said. 

He further pointed out that the ICAO had permitted such extensions only during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that such extensions are no longer available.

The Immigration and Emigration Controller General gave a clarification, after it was recently reported that the validity period of passports expiring after 01 July will be extended by a year.

At the time it was reported that the measures were being taken in view of the e-passport system which is to come into effect in November this year.

It was also reported that specifically if a passport’s 10-year validity period has expired, an additional one-year grace period will be granted until the e-passport is issued.

However, Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya has shot down the reports, claiming that such passport extensions or grace periods will not be provided. 

He added that the Immigration and Emigration Department will issue the usual passports for those expired. (Newswire)

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