The Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Prasanna Ranatunga, has ordered the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to resume 24 projects that have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.

The UDA has said that it is taking steps to resume the projects, which are worth a total of 55,335 million rupees.

Of the 24 projects, nine have been suspended due to administrative issues. The UDA has said that it has held several rounds of negotiations with the relevant companies and has reached agreements to resolve the issues. The projects are expected to be resumed at a fast pace.

The remaining 15 projects have been suspended due to the rise in cost of raw materials, import restrictions and the fuel and electricity crisis faced by contractors due to the financial crisis in the country. The UDA has said that it is working with the Ministry of Finance to secure the necessary funds to resume these projects.

The most valuable project is the Jaffna Town Hall Construction Project, which is worth Rs 3,769 million. The UDA has said that it requires Rs 2,536 million to complete the construction of the city hall.

The UDA has also said that it is taking steps to implement the Borella Welikada prison complex project as a joint venture with the private sector. The project has been put on hold due to the conceptual nature of the project, the inability to reach a final agreement with the Department of Prisons pertaining to the location and requirements for the prison complex, and the lack of funding.