10 Cities Development Program gets Cabinet approval with Rs. 1.4 billion for urban modernization, branding, and 217 projects.
The 10 Cities Development Program has received Cabinet approval, with Sri Lanka set to fast-track urban modernization and city branding projects at a cost of Rs. 1,475 million.
The proposal covers selected towns across the country, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s hometown of Thambuttegama. Cabinet approval has now been granted to move the programme forward as part of a wider push to develop urban centres using a prioritized and data-based approach.
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters that the plan includes 217 prioritized projects across the selected cities.
The projects are expected to be implemented in Jaffna, Matale, Hatton, Batticaloa, Chilaw, Thambuttegama, Vavuniya, Eheliyagoda, Badulla, and Matara.
However, the basis on which these specific locations were selected was not explained.
The approved allocation includes Rs. 500 million that had already been set aside in the budget for the development of these cities.
Separately, the 2026 budget has allocated Rs. 1,300 million to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to redevelop and brand cities such as Anuradhapura, Kataragama, Colombo, and Kandy. Of that amount, Rs. 325 million is scheduled to be spent this year.
Jayatissa said the government’s aim is to create unique identities for cities in order to attract visitors.
“When it comes to attracting domestic and international tourists, developing those cities in a manner that creates a unique identity is a globally recognized concept. That is exactly what branding is,” Jayatissa said.
He also emphasized that the programme does not intend to make every city look identical.
Instead, the government plans to design and implement projects that reflect the distinctive character of each city.
“This does not mean developing Anuradhapura, Colombo, Matara, and Trincomalee all in the exact same manner. Instead, the expectation is to implement development projects by taking the unique characteristics existing within those respective cities into consideration,” Jayatissa said.
According to the Minister, the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development will work with other ministries and state institutions to ensure the proper implementation of the development plan across all 10 cities.
