May 19, Colombo (LNW): The government has placed renewed focus on several major urban development initiatives, including flood prevention measures along the Kelani River, improvements to Colombo’s water management systems, the rehabilitation of Beira Lake and new housing schemes for low-income families in Ratmalana and Moratuwa.
The matters were discussed during a high-level meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake with senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday.
During the discussions, attention was drawn to the urgent need for long-term planning and efficient implementation of key infrastructure projects aimed at addressing recurring urban flooding, environmental degradation and housing shortages in densely populated areas surrounding Colombo.
Minister of Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake stressed the importance of introducing a specialised management framework for selected development projects to ensure proper supervision, accountability and long-term sustainability. He noted that several large-scale urban initiatives had previously suffered delays due to weak coordination and maintenance issues.
President Dissanayake instructed officials to ensure that funds allocated for new UDA projects are fully utilised within the current fiscal year, emphasising the need to avoid unnecessary delays and underutilisation of public resources.
The President also highlighted the importance of close collaboration among relevant state institutions when planning and executing development projects. He said clear responsibility should be assigned not only for project implementation but also for future maintenance and operational management.
Among the proposals reviewed were expanded flood mitigation measures along the Kelani River basin, upgrades to drainage and stormwater systems within Colombo city limits, and environmental restoration efforts surrounding the heavily polluted Beira Lake.
Officials also discussed introducing targeted housing programmes aimed at improving living conditions for economically vulnerable communities in Ratmalana and Moratuwa, where rapid urbanisation has increased pressure on housing and public infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, senior ministry officials, and heads of several state institutions connected to urban planning, land development and settlement management.