Three major state agencies are facing an estimated Rs. 216 billion in infrastructure funding needs following damage caused by the recent Ditwah-related natural disasters, officials told a Parliament Oversight Committee this week.
The agencies—Road Development Authority (RDA), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB)—highlight the scale of the recovery challenge confronting public finances. The government has requested Parliament approval for a supplementary estimate of Rs. 50 billion for emergency relief this year, with plans to present another supplementary estimate of Rs. 500 billion for 2026.
The figures were disclosed during a meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, held on 11 December at Parliament under the chairmanship of SJB MP S.M. Marikkar.
Roads and Bridges
Officials from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development reported that preliminary assessments put direct losses at the RDA at around Rs. 75 billion, with 316 roads and 40 bridges affected. When factoring in the additional rehabilitation work required to fully restore the damaged road and bridge network, the total funding requirement rises to approximately Rs. 190 billion.
The committee chair emphasized that assessments for railway lines and regional roads across the island are still pending. He also stressed the need for the Ministry to take the lead in developing a structured financing mechanism for regional road rehabilitation.
Officials indicated that a Rs. 2 billion loan from the World Bank is currently being explored, along with funding from other institutions.
Power Sector
The CEB reported losses of around Rs. 20 billion due to damage to electricity infrastructure. Discussions are ongoing with the World Bank to secure funding support. The committee chair advised the utility to seek grant funding rather than loans, warning that additional borrowing could lead to higher electricity tariffs.
Lanka Electricity Company Ltd. reported losses of Rs. 252 million, but said repair costs could be covered through existing budgetary allocations without additional financing.
Water Supply
The NWSDB incurred losses estimated at Rs. 5.6 billion after 156 water supply schemes were damaged. Officials from the Housing, Construction, and Water Supply Ministry confirmed that all affected schemes have since been restored, with plans to secure rehabilitation funding as a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Committee members highlighted the importance of planning for future disasters and expressed readiness to support relevant ministries in strengthening infrastructure resilience, according to the Parliament Secretariat.
