N K U Rohana appointed Sri Lanka Surveyor General

Wednesday October 22, 2025 2:13 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved the appointment of N K U Rohana as the Surveyor General with immediate effect, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

He replaces Y G Gnanathilaka, who retired on October 1.

Rohana is the senior most Additional Surveyor General of the Special Grade of the Survey Service in the Survey Department of Sri Lanka. (Colombo/Oct22/2025)

Wednesday October 22, 2025 2:45 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is looking for a consultancy firm to conduct a feasibility study and prepare detailed plans for the extension of the Kelani Valley Railway to Ratnapura, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

250 million rupees has been allocated to commence the initial work related to extending the line in phases, Jayatissa told reporters.

“To provide efficient railway services and improve public transport facilities, it has been proposed to realign the railway line along the existing railway line, and for this a feasibility study and detailed planning should be carried out urgently.”

The Cabinet approved the proposal to implement the relevant procurement process to select a consultancy firm for the purpose, he said.

The Kelani Valley Railway line ends at Avissawella at present. (Colombo/Oct22/2025)

Wednesday October 22, 2025 2:00 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is developing a national building code to address issues with structural safety and quality, with World Bank guidance, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

“These codes cover the entire construction sector under various aspects such as structural integrity of buildings, fire safety, electrical systems, plumbing systems, energy efficiency and disaster resilience,” Jayatissa told reporters.

The World Bank Group has provided technical assistance to the relevant stakeholders, including the National Building Research Organization, in the development of the National Building Codes concept, he said.

“Due to the absence of a national building code currently in force in Sri Lanka, problems have arisen regarding the structural safety, quality and regulation of construction.”

The preparation of climate-resilient national building codes was identified as a priority among four recommendations proposed by the International Monetary Fund.

The National Building Research Organization has prepared a project proposal to prepare a National Building Codes for Sri Lanka.

The cabinet had approved the proposal to prepare and establish a national building code for Sri Lanka, he said.

The decision was previously taken by the cabinet in April 2019, but could not be implemented.

Building Codes are a set of regulations with minimum legal and technical requirements for the design, construction, maintenance and alteration of buildings in a manner that ensures the safety, health and well-being of the public and minimizes disaster risks. (Colombo/Oct22/2025)

Wednesday October 22, 2025 1:35 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved to go ahead with amendments to the island nation’s Strategic Development law, a government document showed, in a move to provide tax incentives for large projects amid restrictions by the IMF.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said tax incentives have been a reason for lower government revenue in the past.

The cabinet has approved to print the gazette on the amendments which have been already cleared by the Attorney General and tabled in parliament, the government said in its cabinet decision.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government has been in discussions to fast track the already signed 3.7 billion dollar refinery in Hambantota and Port City investments, which were earlier promised 25-year tax holidays.

Both projects have faced delays due to lack of tax concessions under the current law. (Colombo/October 22/2025)