COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Urban Development Authority says an urban development project across 10 cities in Sri Lanka will be launched in October.According to the Director General of the Urban Development Authority, Damith Dissanayake The programme named "Livable Cities" is being implemented in line with a proposal presented in the most recent national budget.Under the initiative cities including Jaffna, Vavuniya, Matale, Hatton, Batticaloa, Chilaw, Thambuttegama, Badulla, Eheliyagoda, and Matara will undergo planned the urban development project.Dissanayake said the project, which is expected to cost Rs. 1.475 billion, will implement integrated development projects in and around these towns.He added that the initiative aims to establish and improve essential public facilities required by residents and visitors.According to Dissanayake, projects will be carried out based on integrated development plans prepared by the UDA. The programme will focus on improving urban drainage systems, developing transport plans, constructing multimodal transport hubs, and building commercial complexes and housing schemes.The initiative will also include the creation of public recreational spaces, upgrades to sanitation facilities, improvements to solid waste management systems, the development of roads and bridges, enhanced access to drinking water, and the upgrading of public amenities such as markets and parking facilities.
