Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday, 17 December 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SOC on Infrastructure and Strategic Development Chairman MP S.M. Marikkar
Officials from RDA, CEB and NWSDB and related Ministries
Three major State agencies face an estimated Rs. 216 billion infrastructure funding requirement following damage caused by the Ditwah-related natural disasters, officials told a Parliament Oversight Committee this week.
The three agencies are the Road Development Authority, Ceylon Electricity Board, and National Water and Drainage Board, highlighting the scale of the recovery challenge confronting public finances. The Government has asked Parliament to approve a supplementary estimate for Rs. 50 billion for emergency relief this year with plans to present another supplementary estimate for Rs. 500 billion for 2026.
The estimates relate to the three utilities were disclosed at a meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Infrastructure and Strategic Development held on 11 December at Parliament under the Chairmanship of SJB MP S.M. Marikkar.
Officials from the Ministry of Transport and Highways and Urban Development said preliminary assessments put direct losses at the Road Development Authority at around Rs. 75 billion, after 316 roads and 40 bridges under its purview were damaged.
However, when the additional rehabilitation work required to fully restore the affected road and bridge network is taken into account, the total funding requirement rises to about Rs. 190 billion.
The committee chair noted that assessments covering railway lines and regional roads across the island have not yet been completed and stressed the need for the Ministry to take the lead in developing a structured financing mechanism for the rehabilitation of regional roads.
Officials said a Rs. 2 billion loan from the World Bank is currently being explored, alongside funding from other institutions.
The Ceylon Electricity Board told the committee it has incurred losses of approximately Rs. 20 billion due to damage to electricity infrastructure, with discussions under way with the World Bank to secure funding support. The chair advised the utility to seek grant funding rather than loans, cautioning that additional borrowing could translate into higher electricity tariffs.
Lanka Electricity Company Ltd. reported losses of about Rs. 252 million, but said repair costs can be met through existing budgetary allocations without additional financing.
Officials also said the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has incurred losses estimated at Rs. 5.6 billion after 156 water supply schemes were damaged.
Housing, Construction and Water Supply Ministry officials said all affected schemes have since been restored, with arrangements under way to secure rehabilitation funding as a grant from the Asian Development Bank.
The committee members had stressed the importance of planning for future disasters and said it stands ready to support relevant ministries in strengthening infrastructure resilience, the Parliament Secretariat said.
