The Government has allocated Rs.65 billion for the development of 26 cities under its new “Life Cities” urban-development programme.
The initiative was launched in Colombo under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
The Government says the programme is intended to support people-centred, sustainable and locally appropriate urban development, rather than treating urban development solely as construction of buildings and infrastructure.
First phase
The programme begins with 10 cities in its first phase.
The Government says project plans for the selected urban centres have been handed to the relevant local authorities.
Further funding and implementation are expected to depend partly on progress achieved by the respective local authorities.
Editorial safeguard on city names
A definitive first-phase city list is not included because secondary reporting contains an inconsistency involving Thalawa and Thambuttegama.
Secondary reports have shown an inconsistency involving Thalawa / Thambuttegama.
If the authoritative Government programme document resolves this before deployment, the confirmed list may be added.
Otherwise retain only:
10 cities in the first phase, within a total programme covering 26 cities.
Allocation is not expenditure
The Rs.65 billion is allocated for the overall 26-city programme. It has not been reported as already spent, and the programme does not mean all 26 projects are complete, under construction or included in the 2026 phase.