The Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, W.S. Sathyananda, announced that immediate measures will be taken to remove all unauthorized constructions contributing to flooding in Colombo and its suburbs.
Speaking at a news conference held at the Department of Government Information, Sathyananda stated that a relevant circular will be issued to all government institutions within two weeks. He emphasized the importance of conserving the existing wetlands in Colombo and its surrounding areas for effective flood control. The blocking of small waterways and drainage systems in these areas has been identified as a significant cause of flooding.
The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Hiran Balasuriya, indicated that multiple projects are underway to mitigate flooding in Colombo and its suburbs. These initiatives are being implemented in collaboration with the Urban Development Authority (UDA), the Irrigation Department, Provincial Irrigation Departments, and local government institutions.
The comprehensive flood mitigation plan for Colombo and its suburbs will be executed in three phases: short-term, medium-term, and long-term.
The seven projects include:
- Improvement of water supply systems outside Colombo and the Urban Landscaping Project.
- Palangastuduwa Pumping Station Project.
- Flood Control Facility Implementation and Maintenance Project, including rainwater pumping station flood gates.
- Implementation and maintenance of facilities for integrated flood management systems and real-time control data centers.
- Drainage improvement project of the Piliyandala Master Development Plan.
- Drainage and environmental improvement program of the Battaramulla catchment area, the upper catchment area of the Parliament.