Transforming Lanka into global economic centre:

Great leap with urban development

Sri Lanka will be developed as a key link between the East and West using our strategic geographical location under the Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future program. Infrastructure, communication facilities will be given a facelift which is vital for developing our townships and administrative network

Attractive housing units to replace slums under township development project. File photo

Ariya Rubasinghe

Our next massive leap forward is to transform Sri Lanka into a strategically important economic centre of the world and to make Sri Lanka to be the Pearl of the Asia Silk Route once again, in modern terms. Using our strategic geographical location effectively, Sri Lanka will be developed as a Naval, Aviation, Commercial, Energy and Knowledge hub, serving as a key link between the East and West.

(Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future)

Development of infrastructure, communication facilities and giving a facelift of our townships and developing the administrative network is vital to achieve the aforementioned objectives.

Urban Development Ministry is playing a keyrole to transform Sri Lanka to meet the basic requirements necessary for this objective, by implementing several township development projects, upgrading administrative facilities, and implementing projects for creating an environmental friendly atmosphere.

During last year alone the government spent Rs. 9,412 million for implementing these projects.

Township development - an end to slums

The objective of this project is to rid our cities and towns from the ever growing slum dwellings and instead construct attractive housing units and flats to resettle slum dwellers and afford them decent and healthy abodes. Under this program 3,978 housing units have been constructed at a cost of Rs. 415 million. In addition to this another 8,341 slums have been identified and their occupants will be provided with alternative housing units.

In addition to this under the utility facilities development program recently initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa all housing compounds within the Colombo City limit will be expeditiously developed with utility facilities, drains and will be upgraded with all other amenities they require to give such compounds a new facelift.

3K development project

This project aims to develop infrastructure facilities adjoining the Outer Ring Road and centred on Kadawata, Kottawa and Kaduwela areas. The project will provide all infrastructure facilities required for foreign and local investors to commence industries and other projects in the area covered by this project.

Initial work on the project commenced in July last year and it is expected to be completed by the year 2012.

Peliyagoda, Dambulla, Galewela and Hambantota warehouse projects

Lunawa project objective is development of access canals and drains leading to the lagoon

The Peliyagoda Warehouse Project has already been completed. Similar projects will be completed in Dambulla, Galewela and Hambantota and will be financed under the Spain Export Credit Facility. The warehouses will have modern facilities including warehouses to store cereals, fruits, vegetables and rice. They will also consist with Cold Rooms and Ice Plants. These warehouses will also have facilities for processing fruits and vegetables for long-term use. At Galewela and Dambulla two warehouses will be constructed with capacities to store 12,000 tons of threshed rice.

It is also proposed to construct another Warehouse Centre at Melsiripura.

Sethsiripaya stage II

Under this project a modern office complex with all amenities will be constructed to house under one roof government office now being spread in various parts of Colombo. The complex will consist 12 floors, and several wings. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 800 million.

Hambantota administrative complex

Work on the construction of the Hambantota administrative complex is nearing completion and it will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa shortly.

To be continued