Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing
Minister Anura Karunathilaka answered Question No. 1073/2025 on UDA projects in Matara, stating that 18 projects are being implemented in the district and tabling annexes with project details, expenditures, status, and administrative responsibilities. He said key projects include developments related to the Matara bus stand and Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium, Matara Beach Park, Kotuwegoda Public Market, commercial complexes, parking facilities, and the Nilwala Riverbank Park. Regarding Matara Gangabada Udyana, he said it was intended for recreation and tourism, was not accepted for maintenance by the Matara Municipal Council, was assigned to a private operator, and is now closed under a court order after safety clearance issues; reopening is expected subject to court permission.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED BY URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IN MATARA: DETAILS Question No. 1073/2025
¶ 02 (a) (i) The Urban Development Authority (UDA) was established to prepare integrated plans and to implement and promote development plans for areas declared as Urban Development Areas by the Ministry, for economic, social and cultural development. (ii) Eighteen (18) projects are being implemented in the Matara District. (Annex 01 tabled.) (iii) Details of each project within Matara city limits – commencement date, nature, objectives, expenditure and current status – are provided. (Annex 02 tabled.) (iv) Regarding ‘Matara Gangabada Udyana’ and ‘Thurunu Uyana’: the intended objectives of Gangabada Udyana were recreation and tourism attraction. ‘Thurunu Uyana’ is not a UDA project. Gangabada Udyana was developed with the intent to hand it to the Matara Municipal Council (MMC) for maintenance; as MMC did not accept, the site was given to a private operator for five years to maintain and operate, with some development responsibilities. However, since the operator opened the park without obtaining required safety clearances, the UDA stopped public opening. Pursuant to a court order, the site is currently closed. Upon obtaining court leave, we expect to reopen for public use. (v) Administrative structures and responsible institutions/persons for each project are provided. (Annex 03 tabled.)
¶ 03 (b) Not applicable.
¶ 04 [Annex 01, Annex 02 and Annex 03 with lists of 18 Matara District UDA projects; key projects include: Matara Bus Stand and Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium development; Matara Beach Park; Kotuwegoda Public Market (Stage I); Sanipola Building development; Old Tangalle Road Commercial Complex; Parking and commercial development near Matara Hospital; Nilwala Riverbank Park (Gangabada Udyana) Phases 1–3 with partial PPP operation; among others. Administrative responsibility primarily with Matara Municipal Council, UDA Matara District Office and UDA Director General.]
Provenance
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- Hansard, Friday, 22 August 2025 ·No. 1756894696039492 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 22 August 2025. No. 1756894696039492. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/22269