News
All UDA projects under microscope
The Government is reviewing all projects under the Urban Development Authority – from low-income housing to mega development schemes – to ascertain their feasibility.
Pictured here are two of the mega-projects for which the previous government had been seeking investors
The “usefulness and cost estimates and stipulated prices” of some UDA and Land Reclamation Board bear investigation, the newly appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, Karunasena Hettiarachchi, said.
He said the UDA would maintain completed projects for the beautification of Colombo such as the Gold Centre and the Floating Market in Pettah, Arcade Independence, the Old Dutch Hospital and the Racecourse.
“The previous regime allocated huge amounts to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development but fund allocations will be made by Treasury only after the reviews,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.
The budget allocation for Defence and Urban Development was nearly Rs. 290 billion for 2015, an increase from Rs. 253bn the previous year.
Other city beautification and town centre developments planned by the Rajapaksa government include the Nuwara Eliya, Homagama,
Tripoli site in the Fort
Godagama, Diyagama, Pitipana, Mahenawatte, Pothuwilkumbura and Angoda town centre projects, the Greater Hambantota development project, the Beira Lake restoration and the Kalido Beach Park in Kalutara.
“Funding for these projects will go through the Treasury depending on the availability of funds,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.
Housing programmes for low-income settlements will continue but will first be reviewed.
The previous government’s urban regeneration programme was seeking investors for 537 watte and Mount Mary land in Dematagoda, Colombo 9, Typing Watte in Colombo 8, 187, 189 and 255 watte in Torrington Avenue, Colombo 7, Tara Watte in Colombo 7 and Udumage Watte on Baseline Road.
Mr. Hettiarachchi said projects for which contracts have been signed with the military would go ahead, saying they were more economical than with private contractors.
“But there would not be jobs such as cleaning roads and drains that will affect the dignity of military personnel,” Mr. Hettiarachchi emphasised. “President Maitripala Sirisena has clearly instructed us not to use the military in work that will affect their dignity as military personnel.”
The maintenance of walkways, fountains, fishponds and parks will be done by the UDA along with the support of local government.
Priority mega-projects for which the previous government was seeking investors in the Colombo district include the Chalmers Granaries site, Gangarama car park, St John’s car park site, the Water’s Edge Hotel site, Maradana Central Cinema site, HSBC Land, UDA stage 3 land in Battaramulla, ETF land in Colombo, BCC land in Panchikawatte, a site next to Hemas Building and the Tripoli site in the Fort, 113 perches of land in Union Place and the Electro Plastics building site in Rajagiriya.
“We won’t rush into mega development programmes without reviewing them. All these proposed projects will be thoroughly studied and follow proper procedures,” Mr. Hettiararchchi said.