President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday officially restarted construction of two long-delayed public projects in Ampara District: the Nindavur Cultural Centre and the Ampara Multipurpose Town Hall. Both had been abandoned mid-construction years ago.
The Nindavur Cultural Centre, aimed at preserving Ampara District’s cultural heritage, has a total estimated cost of Rs. 945.04 million, with Rs. 300 million allocated in the 2026 budget. Completion is scheduled for December 31, 2027, according to the President’s Media Division.
The Ampara Multipurpose Town Hall, valued at Rs. 1,744.85 million, has a December 31, 2028 completion target. The President’s Office described both initiatives as part of the government’s commitment to strengthening cultural infrastructure and addressing community needs in the district.
Later in the day, the President was set to chair the Ampara District Special Coordinating Committee at the District Secretariat to review ongoing development projects, Cyclone Ditwah relief measures, and infrastructure programmes.
The Ampara visit was the second leg of an Eastern Province swing announced on May 17, following an earlier stop in Batticaloa on May 20. Both districts have large Tamil and Muslim populations and have historically received less direct presidential engagement than the south or central highlands.
Source: Newswire — President to relaunch Nindavur cultural centre and Ampara town hall projects.
