Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has instructed officials to begin reconstruction work without delay on Kandawala Road in Ratmalana and the drainage network running alongside it.
The directive was issued at a special discussion held on Friday (31) at the Western Province Provincial Council office, according to the council’s media unit.
The road provides access to factories and higher education institutions in the area. Officials told the meeting that years of neglect, combined with existing blockages, cause the roadway and surrounding buildings to flood routinely during the rainy season, disrupting residents, staff and visitors.
What officials blamed
Four principal causes of the flooding were identified at the meeting: unauthorised construction obstructing the flow of rainwater, inadequate maintenance of the drainage system, insufficient culverts and bridges, and a high groundwater table in the area.
The Prime Minister said land ownership disputes and the absence of a clearly designated institution responsible for canal maintenance had both contributed to the problem — a jurisdictional gap in which no single agency owns the work. She said state agencies would have to cooperate across narrow administrative boundaries rather than treating the canals as someone else’s remit.
Amarasuriya added that any final development plan drawn up for the area must include comprehensive flood mitigation measures rather than addressing the road surface alone.
Ratmalana, in the Colombo District, is a dense mix of light industry, residential neighbourhoods and educational institutions, and sits on low-lying ground served by a canal network draining towards the coast.
No timeline, cost estimate or lead implementing agency was announced. No other verified newsroom had reported the meeting at the time of writing.
Sources: Hiru News.
