Attention has been drawn to the Kelani River flood control project, water management initiatives in Colombo city, the restoration of Beira Lake, and the need for a special housing program for low‑income families in Ratmalana and Moratuwa. 

These priorities were emphasized during a meeting held on Monday (18) between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Minister of Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake underscored the necessity of adopting a special model for the proper management of certain projects to ensure effective implementation and sustainability.

President Dissanayake stressed that allocations made for new UDA projects must be fully utilized within the current financial year. He also highlighted the importance of finalizing projects in consultation with relevant institutions, assigning clear responsibilities for both implementation and long‑term maintenance.

The meeting reviewed several major initiatives, including flood mitigation along the Kelani River, urban water management schemes, and housing programs aimed at improving living conditions for low‑income communities in Colombo’s suburbs.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Ministry Secretary Senior Prof. Kapila Perera, UDA Chairman M.G. Hemachandra, and heads of the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD), and the Co‑Management Authority (CMA) joined the discussions alongside senior state officials. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has approved a proposal to call for investment proposals to develop a plot of land belonging to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) at Maradana Road, Colombo 10, on a 50‑year lease basis.

According to the government, at the Cabinet meeting held on 28 April 2025, a special committee was appointed to identify suitable development activities for UDA‑owned land not currently in use. 

The committee recommended that the Colombo 10 property, measuring 1 acre, 1 rood, and 12.4 perches, be developed as a mixed‑use project based on new innovations related to information technology.

Considering the proposal presented by the Minister of Urban Development, Cabinet approval was granted to invite investors to develop the site as a centre for producing intellectual technological innovations and services targeting the domestic market, with the involvement of Sri Lankan technologists. (Newswire)

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State Minister for Urban Development and Housing, Arundika Fernando, has announced that state enterprises are now open to private sector investments, but only at the government’s assessed value. 

This directive is in accordance with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s instruction that state enterprises should not be offered for private sector investments below their assessed value. 

Fernando made these remarks at a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre on Wednesday. 

“The government has granted authorization to seek investors for various enterprises falling under the purview of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, with the aim of ensuring their systematic maintenance,”

He said that this move is anticipated to facilitate transparent investment procedures for establishments like the Hilton Hotel, ultimately strengthening the financial reserves of the government, distributing shares among employees, and fostering orderly management of these entities.

“President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed not to offer state enterprises in private sector investments below their assessed value. There is no room for any private investor to acquire state enterprises below the government’s appraisal value,” Fernando stressed. (Newswire)

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The Minister of Urban Development Prasanna Ranatunga has instructed his ministry officials to take necessary steps to provide protection to the public in the areas surrounding the unfinished Krrish building in Colombo. 

According to reports, Minister Ranatunga has issued the directive as it has been observed that there were high risks of accidents to the public using the area surrounding the building.

Stating that in the event of an accident, the ministry and its officials will not be able to take responsibility, the minister has pointed out the need to take immediate measures in this regard.

The matter was discussed during a meeting of the Urban Development Ministry’s Advisory Committee in Parliament earlier this week.

The risk of abandoned machinery at the site falling due to strong winds and the breeding of mosquitoes as a result of water being collected in various parts of the construction site were discussed at the meeting.

It is reported that several prominent hotels have filed complaints claiming that there is a risk of the spread of dengue as the proposed building has an underground area in which water is being collected and has not been cleaned.

Minister Prasanna Ranataunga has advised his ministry officials to take necessary measures if the relevant investors of the construction site are unable to agree to a stipulated timeframe to commence construction work. 

The Ministry officials have informed that a discussion is scheduled with the relevant investors on recommencing construction work. (NewsWire)

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