President orders review of State assets, public investment ahead of 2027 Budget

• Directs assessment of over 2,000 underutilised Govt. buildings and prioritisation of essential projects
• Reviews Rs. 60.43 b capital program and Rs. 706.23 b recurrent expenditure
• Officials told to accelerate Rs. 6.79 b rural bridge program after 2026 projects reach 29% progress
• Public administration reforms, digitalisation and infrastructure projects reviewed during pre-Budget discussions

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to review underutilised State assets, prioritise essential public investment projects, and improve implementation of infrastructure programs as part of pre-Budget discussions on the Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry, according to the President’s Office.

The discussion reviewed the progress of projects implemented under the Ministry’s 2026 Budget allocations and considered proposals for the 2027 Budget, covering Rs. 60,430.04 million in capital expenditure and Rs. 706,226.83 million in recurrent expenditure across the Public Administration, Home Affairs, and Local Government sectors.

According to the President’s Office, Finance Ministry officials informed the meeting that more than 2,000 underutilised Government buildings exist across the country.

President Dissanayake instructed officials to conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing construction projects and prioritise only those considered essential.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of rural small bridge development projects implemented through local authorities.

Officials said Rs. 6,793 million is expected to be allocated for the program during 2026-2029, while projects financed under the Rs. 1,050 million allocation provided for 2026 had achieved 29% progress.

The President instructed officials to implement the projects more efficiently, taking into consideration the priorities identified by district coordination committees and the importance of the program, according to the President’s Office.

The review also covered the Greater Colombo Wastewater Management Project, implemented intermittently since 2015. The President instructed all relevant institutions to jointly prepare a comprehensive plan covering both the project and the overall drainage system within the Colombo Municipal Council area.

Special attention was also given to the Government’s digitalisation program.

The President instructed officials to identify services currently provided through District and Divisional Secretariats that could be delivered through digital platforms and to submit a report on the findings within the coming months.

According to the President’s Office, President Dissanayake also instructed officials to prepare a plan to transform regional administrative units into development-oriented institutions capable of supporting social and economic progress at the local level.

He observed that while Sri Lanka’s administrative system had remained in place for several decades, many public issues continued to remain unresolved. Although the existing framework could continue with incremental reforms, he said the public expected a broader transformation of the administrative system and emphasised that the process should begin by encouraging wider discussion within the public administration sector.

The meeting also reviewed construction of District Secretariat complexes in Ampara, Batticaloa, Kegalle, and Polonnaruwa, Divisional Secretariat offices in Kalutara, Pitabeddara, Angunakolapelessa, Ratmalana, Kotte, and Kolonnawa, the operations of the Local Loan and Development Fund, activities of the Department of Pensions and the Department of Registration of Persons, and progress in repurposing former ministerial residences and official bungalows for economically productive purposes.

According to the President’s Office, the President instructed officials to expedite the utilisation of those properties to maximise returns from public assets, while discussions also covered strengthening local authorities through improved facilities, revenue-generating capacity, and training for newly recruited officers.