2023-06-21
News Categories : Committee News
Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development disclosed that 23 projects initiated by the Urban Development Authority by spending government funds are currently stopped and that amongst such projects, 11 have been stopped due to issues between the institutions.
The Committee emphasized that in addition to the projects that have stopped due to lack of funds, the main reason for these projects to stop is that there is no good cooperation or agreement between the relevant institutions.
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development which met on the 20th of June 2023 under the Chairmanship of Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma, took into consideration the projects which have been initiated by the Urban Development Authority but have been abandoned due to various reasons thereby making a change in the strategies or existing rules followed in starting and maintaining the projects.
Thus, it was revealed that an amount of 56,388 million rupees has been estimated for 11 projects that have been stopped in the middle due to the problems between the institutions, and although the Urban Development Authority has spent 2,531 million rupees, there are outstanding bills of 14,23 million rupees for further payment. Also, it was revealed that an amount of 56,999 million rupees is required for the completion of the projects.
Since there are projects that have been stopped due to lack of funds as well as projects that have been stopped due to institutional issues that need to be resolved between various institutions, the committee focused its attention on projects that have been stopped in the middle due to problems between institutions at this Committee meeting held.
The Ceylon Electricity Board, Road Development Authority, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Sri Lanka Railway Department and the Prisons Department were called before the Committee, including the Urban Development Authority.
Among the 11 projects that have been stopped due to inter-institutional issues, the construction of the new access road from Kottawa to Mahenawatta, the development of Alavwa town (road widening), the construction of the entrance to Yakkala from the Gampaha highway, the expansion of Imaduwa town, the construction of low-income houses in Beruwanawatta, Aheliyagoda, Hatton The committee considered the development of the railway station and the replacement of the Welikada prison were looked into during the Committee.
Work on the construction of the new access road from Kottawa to Mahenawatta is about 98% completed and that the problem of land acquisition has been largely resolved as another place has been proposed for the people who will lose their land and post resolving the remaining issues with the Homagama Divisional Secretary, the project can be given to the Road Development Authority for completion Officials of the Urban Development Authority said.
It was disclosed that the construction of 34 low-income houses in Beruwanavatta, Aheliyagoda, planned to resettle people who will lose their land during the construction of the proposed by-pass instead of the pass through the city, which is very important for the development of Aheliyagoda, has been stopped due to problems in obtaining electricity and water supply for those houses. The Committee instructed since the houses have been completed, to have the projects completed by resolving problems of providing facilities with the Electricity Board and the Ratnapura District Community Water Supply Department and to resolve ownership issues of the land existing between the Railway Department and the Road Development Authority through cooperation between the institutions.
Furthermore, it was revealed before the Committee that although the land acquisition work of the proposed Gampaha Makavita Nelumwila Health Lane Project has been completed, the project has stopped midway. As 13 million has been spent for this purpose, the Committee instructed to carry out urban forestry on this piece of land and use it in the process of increasing forestry in Sri Lanka.
Under the replacement of Welikada prison, the Prisons Department and the Urban Development Authority were instructed that the value of the land where Welikada is currently located should be accurately assessed by the Government Valuation Department, and the money obtained by leasing the existing land or calling for tenders and selling the land should be used to locate the prison on the proposed land in Horana with more space and facilities under approved measurements.
The Committee emphasized that the cost can be covered through the investment received without spending government funds for the relevant project. The Committee also emphasized that by replacing the Welikada prison, the government hopes to use the more valuable Welikada land for other productive investment purposes and to re-establish the prison with more spacious facilities with the large amount of funds received.
According to the facts considered, the Committee emphasized that the main reason for the cease of the projects is the lack of good cooperation or agreement between the institutions involved. The recommendation of the Committee was that when starting projects under the limited resources available, a preliminary analysis should be done regarding the social, economic and environmental impacts and the most beneficial and most important method should be followed. The participating officials were also instructed to follow the instructions and guidance given by the Committee and inform the Committee within 3 weeks of the progress regarding the work of the considered projects.
Committee Members Hon. Thushara Indunil Amarasena, Hon. Akila Ellawala, Hon. Waruna Liyanage, Hon. (Dr.) Thilak Rajapakshe, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha were present at the Committee meeting held.
2026-08-21
The second programme in the “Voice to Policy” series of regional dialogue programmes, organized by the Parliamentary Caucus for the Open Parliament Initiative, is scheduled to be held for the youth of Batticaloa District on August 29 at the East Lagoon Hotel in Batticaloa.The organizational arrangements for the programme were discussed at a meeting held recently (Aug. 19) at Parliament under the leadership of the Co-Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Caucus for the Open Parliament Initiative, Hon. Minister Prof. Krishantha Abeyasena and Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam.The workshop series is being organized with the aim of further promoting the concept of an Open Parliament through the participation of youth representatives. Members of the Parliamentary Caucus, as well as Members of Parliament representing the Batticaloa District, are expected to participate in the event.The workshops are intended particularly to raise awareness among young people about parliamentary affairs, the legislative process and the principles of an Open Parliament, while further strengthening the relationship between Parliament and citizens.Young people aged 18–35 from Batticaloa District who wish to participate in the workshop are required to complete the relevant registration form via https://forms.gle/aVp5UzhLbtPSmVap8 and register before August 24. The Caucus also informed participants that they should wear clothing without symbols promoting any political party or movement.Members of the Parliamentary Caucus and representatives of CII (Coalition for Inclusive Impact), the development partner providing sponsorship for the workshop series, also participated in the meeting.In addition, a virtual discussion was held during the meeting with representatives of the INTER Pares, focusing on the possibility of obtaining their support for the Caucus’s future activities. Mr. Sanjaya Vignaraja, Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), who contributed to coordinating the discussion, also participated in the meeting.
2026-08-18
The Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of one Ministry Secretary and three chairpersons to government statutory boards and institutions.Accordingly, the Committee approved the appointment of Dr. Anil Jasinghe as Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media; Mr. S.A.M. Peiris as Chairman of the Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company (Pvt) Ltd.; Mr. H.M.P. Ratnayake as Chairman of Kurunegala Plantations Limited; and Dr. (Mrs.) W.M.V. Wanasinghe as Chairperson of the National Insurance Trust Fund.The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya and was attended by the Hon. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, the Hon. Members of Parliament Kumara Jayakody, and Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law.
2026-08-18
The “Voice to Policy” dialogue programme organized for youth in the Gampaha District by the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative was held recently (Aug. 16) at Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo. The programme provided an opportunity for young people from the Gampaha District to present their policy proposals directly to Members of Parliament. The programme was conducted as the first in a series of workshops organized by the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, covering all districts of the country with the aim of further promoting the concept of an Open Parliament. The main objective of the programme was to provide young people with an opportunity to directly present their views, concerns and policy proposals to Members of Parliament. Young men and women representing the Gampaha District participated in the workshop. The event was attended by the Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, Hon. Minister Prof. Krishantha Abeysena and Hon. Member of Parliament Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, as well as Members of Parliament Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney at Law, S. M. Marikkar, Retired Lieutenant Commander N. R. Prageeth Maduranga, Retired Major General G. D. Suriyabandara and Champika Hettiarachchi.During the programme, young participants presented their views and proposals on a wide range of issues, including education and higher education, political participation, vocational training, employment opportunities, technology, entrepreneurship, and access to opportunities and information available to young people.Particular attention was given to reducing the time required to complete higher education courses and degree programmes, creating greater opportunities for young people who wish to enter politics, and expanding youth entrepreneurship.A key feature of the programme was that the young participants themselves identified their priority concerns, discussed them, grouped them into common areas, and selected fields requiring policy attention before engaging in direct dialogue with Members of Parliament on those issues.The Parliamentary Caucus indicated that it would give consideration to forwarding the proposals presented by the youth during the programme for further consideration by Parliament. Discussions were also held on providing youth representatives with opportunities to engage in the future with the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament on these matters.In addition, Youth Rapporteurs were appointed to document the recommendations and proposals raised during the programme and submit them to the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative.This workshop was organized in collaboration with the CII (Coalition for Inclusive Impact) and sponsored by the NDI (National Democratic Institute).
2026-08-14
The Caucus on Climate Parliament of Sri Lanka emphasized the need to move beyond reactive crisis management and establish Anticipatory Crisis Governance mechanisms to strengthen Sri Lanka’s climate resilience in the face of climate change, including El Niño conditions.At the meeting, held recently in Parliament under the joint chairmanship of Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Hon. Member of Parliament Prof. L.M. Abeywickrema, discussions covered a wide range of issues, including climate change, El Niño conditions, agriculture, water management, wildlife conservation, human-elephant conflict, disaster management and environmental management.Delivering the main expert presentation at the meeting, Prof. Charitha Pattiarachchi, Winthrop Professor of coastal oceanography at the University of Western Australia, highlighted the need for early preparedness in the face of climate risks, science-based policymaking and stronger disaster management mechanisms. The disaster management model of the Indian state of Odisha was also discussed. It was noted that, during a cyclone in 2019, the state was able to evacuate approximately one million people to safe locations within 24 hours.The interim report presented by Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human-Elephant Conflict, pointed out that climate conditions could intensify human-elephant conflict and highlighted the need for short- and long-term measures, including community-based electric fences, seasonal paddy-field fencing, wildlife habitat management and water management.The interim report presented by Prof. Sampath Seneviratne, Chairman of the Independent Expert Advisory Group on El Niño Resilience, analyzed the impacts of climate change on agriculture, biodiversity, water security and the rural economy. The report also proposed a Strategic Climate Resilience Framework based on scientific evidence.With regard to wildlife conservation, attention was drawn to addressing the shortage of veterinary officers, strengthening wildlife management, and reducing environmental damage caused by human activities, plastics and waste in and around national parks. Proposals were also put forward to minimize environmental impacts in sensitive sacred areas, introduce a differential pricing system for the tourism sector, and develop infrastructure in national parks.The meeting also emphasized the need to strengthen science-based policies, institutional coordination and early-preparedness mechanisms in order to enhance Sri Lanka’s resilience to climate change.Members of Parliament, government officials, representatives of international organizations and development partners, researchers, youth representatives and representatives of civil society organizations participated in the meeting.
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