Cabinet approves Rs. 15.07 Bn revised plan to complete Kolonnawa flood control project

EconomyNext and Newswire report that Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers approved a revised plan, presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, to resume and finish the remaining work on the Kolonnawa Stormwater Drainage and Environmental Improvement Project. The three-year plan is estimated to cost Rs. 15,077.82 million.

EconomyNext and Newswire say the project began in 2019 but suffered delays following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the later economic downturn. The revised plan and updated cost estimate were prepared to carry out the outstanding work.

EconomyNext and Newswire report that the work includes completing the 3,250-metre Salalihini Mawatha canal and building a 3,868-metre canal identified as Dahamwela by EconomyNext and Dahamwala by Newswire. The plans also include water-retention ponds or storage areas to help manage heavy rainfall.

The outlets report that the project will rehabilitate a 4,475-metre canal and a 650-metre canal, and repair a flood-control gate. EconomyNext identifies these as the Passanna Canal, Dandu Thota Canal and Dandu Thota sluice gate; Newswire uses the names Passiyana Canal, Dandukotuwa Canal and Dandutota flood gate. Three mobile pumps, each rated to move one cubic metre of stormwater per second, are also planned.

EconomyNext and Newswire report that Rs. 1,015 million is set aside for land acquisition and a relief or compensation package for affected families, including consideration of potential effects on their livelihoods during the work.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.