Wednesday Jul 22, 2026
Wednesday Jul 22, 2026
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 07:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a Committee of Officials to recommend transferring the responsibility for rehabilitating roads currently managed by Provincial Councils and Local Government authorities to the Road Development Authority (RDA), where urgent repairs are required.
Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the decision follows requests made by the public and public servants at District Coordination Committees and other institutions seeking the RDA’s intervention to rehabilitate roads that are outside its current jurisdiction, but are in need of immediate improvement.
He added that around 60 roads owned by Provincial Councils and other Local Government institutions have already been identified for possible takeover by the RDA.
“The committee will study the proposal and submit recommendations on the legal, administrative and institutional arrangements required to entrust the RDA with carrying out rehabilitation work on these roads,” he said.
It will comprise representatives from the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry, Transport, Highways and Urban Development Ministry, Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry, the Finance Commission, a Provincial Chief Secretary, the Department of Management Services, the RDA, and a Provincial Road Development Authority.
The RDA is currently responsible for the construction, rehabilitation, improvement, maintenance and management of the national highway network, including A and B class roads, expressways and related bridges.
The proposed mechanism is expected to facilitate quicker rehabilitation of roads that remain under provincial and local authorities but require urgent intervention beyond the capacity or resources of the respective institutions.
