Despite a hefty allocation of Rs 1,508.25 million for 535 projects under the Colombo District Development Programme, only Rs 8.20 million has been spent as of 16 May, raising serious concerns about the sluggish pace of public sector implementation.
This underperformance was highlighted in a progress report tabled at the recent Colombo District Coordinating Committee meeting, which reviewed the 2025 Western Province Development Plan.
The total allocation for Western Province development this year stands at Rs 3,201.30 million, to be utilized from 1 January to 31 December.
However, implementation lags across key ministries suggest that much of the allocated funding remains underutilized, with nearly half of the approved projects yet to begin.
Out of the 535 projects funded under five central ministries, 238 have not been initiated.
The Ministry of Education has the highest number of stalled initiatives, with 125 out of its 177 approved projects yet to see the light of day.
The Ministry of Health also lags behind, with 61 out of 194 projects still not started.
The Ministry of Highways has initiated just 53 of its 61 projects, while the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government has only launched 34 of its 77.
The Ministry of Agriculture shows the best progress among the five, with only one out of 26 projects pending.
Overall, only 283 projects are currently under implementation, with a mere 14 completed as of mid-May, less than 3% of the total.
The delays have sparked concern over the feasibility of meeting year-end targets and delivering on development promises made under the provincial plan.
Leave a comment