Multi-agency committee to recommend transferring 60 provincial roads to RDA for urgent rehabilitation after the Cabinet of Ministers approved the appointment of a committee to study the legal and administrative framework needed to accelerate repairs on deteriorating provincial and local authority roads.
Multi-agency committee to recommend transferring 60 provincial roads to RDA for urgent rehabilitation
The move aims to improve road infrastructure by enabling the Road Development Authority (RDA) to undertake rehabilitation work on roads that currently fall outside its jurisdiction but require urgent intervention.
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the decision during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, explaining that the proposal follows repeated requests from members of the public and public officials seeking the involvement of the Road Development Authority in repairing roads managed by Provincial Councils and Local Government institutions.
According to the Minister, nearly 60 roads owned by Provincial Councils and other local authorities have already been identified as potential candidates for transfer to the RDA for rehabilitation. Many of these roads require immediate repairs but remain beyond the financial or operational capacity of the respective provincial and local institutions.
The Multi-agency committee to recommend transferring 60 provincial roads to RDA for urgent rehabilitation initiative is intended to establish a practical mechanism that allows the RDA to intervene where road conditions have deteriorated significantly and where faster action is required to improve public transport, connectivity, and road safety.
The newly appointed committee will examine the legal, administrative, and institutional arrangements necessary to facilitate such transfers. Its recommendations will guide the Government on how responsibility for rehabilitation projects can be assigned to the RDA while maintaining coordination with Provincial Councils and Local Government authorities.
The committee will consist of representatives from several key government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, the Finance Commission, a Provincial Chief Secretary, the Department of Management Services, the Road Development Authority, and a Provincial Road Development Authority.
Currently, the RDA is responsible for constructing, rehabilitating, improving, maintaining, and managing Sri Lanka’s national highway network, including A and B class roads, expressways, and associated bridges. Provincial roads and roads maintained by local authorities generally remain under the responsibility of Provincial Councils and Local Government institutions.
However, growing public concerns over the condition of several provincial roads have prompted calls for greater central government involvement. During District Coordination Committee meetings and consultations with government agencies, requests have repeatedly been made for the RDA to undertake repairs on roads that are strategically important but remain outside its existing mandate.
The proposed mechanism is expected to address this gap by allowing the Government to respond more quickly to urgent infrastructure needs. Improved road conditions are expected to enhance transport efficiency, strengthen regional connectivity, support economic activity, and improve public safety for commuters and businesses alike.
The Cabinet of Ministers believes that enabling the RDA to undertake rehabilitation work where necessary could provide a more coordinated and resource-efficient approach to maintaining critical transport infrastructure, particularly in areas where provincial authorities face financial or technical limitations.
The Multi-agency committee to recommend transferring 60 provincial roads to RDA for urgent rehabilitation proposal represents an important step toward strengthening collaboration between central and provincial institutions while ensuring that priority road projects receive timely attention. Once the committee submits its recommendations, the Government is expected to determine the legal and operational framework required to implement the proposed transfers and accelerate rehabilitation work across the identified road network.