President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced a series of major flood mitigation projects targeting Colombo and its suburbs, with Rs. 3.2 billion allocated to improve urban drainage systems and rehabilitate canals under the 2027 Budget.
Presenting the Budget in Parliament today (12), the President said recurring floods in Colombo were largely caused by inadequate maintenance of major canals and insufficient capacity in drainage systems to carry rainwater.
Several major projects are scheduled to commence in 2027 to address the problem, including the rehabilitation of the St. Sebastian Canal and Kirulapana Canal, as well as improvements to the stormwater drainage system in Piliyandala and Kesbewa.
The Government will also launch the Mudun Ela project to reduce flooding in Wattala, Kelaniya and Biyagama, while continuing flood mitigation projects already underway in Kolonnawa and Oliyumulla.
A section of the Hamilton Canal is also scheduled for development as part of the wider flood prevention programme.
The Rs. 3.2 billion allocation will support the restoration of identified canals in Colombo and its suburban areas, alongside improvements to the stormwater drainage system near the Piliyandala–Kesbewa by-road.
Rs. 900 Million for Beira Lake Development
Meanwhile, Rs. 900 million has been allocated to conduct a scientific study on the sustainable development of Beira Lake and surrounding land use, and to prepare a comprehensive development plan.
Essential development activities already identified will also be implemented.
Flood Prevention Projects in Other Districts
Beyond Colombo, the Government plans to improve the Bindunu Ela canal system in Wadduwa and Molligoda in the Kalutara District.
Drainage improvement projects are also scheduled for Gampaha and Ratnapura, as well as Dikwella, Beruwala and Rathgama.
Ongoing Malwathu Oya projects are expected to address flooding in the Mannar District, while preliminary work on the Mundeni Aru project, targeting flood problems in Ampara and Batticaloa, is expected
