By: Staff Writer
December 23, Colombo (LNW): The appointment of M.G. Hemachandra as Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) comes at a decisive moment for Sri Lanka’s urban planning sector, long burdened by allegations of corruption, tender manipulation, institutional inertia and costly project failures.
As the country grapples with cyclone- and flood-related devastation of an unprecedented scale, expectations are mounting that the UDA, often branded a symbol of bureaucratic excess must undergo structural transformation rather than cosmetic change.
Hemachandra arrives with a professional background that sharply contrasts with the Authority’s troubled reputation.
A former Senior Specialist and Chief of Loan Projects at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), he brings decades of experience in development policy formulation, infrastructure financing, procurement governance, project evaluation and contract administration. These are precisely the areas where the UDA has drawn sustained criticism, particularly over opaque tender processes and poorly coordinated urban interventions.
The immediate challenge before the new Chairman is not merely institutional cleanup but strategic repositioning. With urban flooding, drainage failures and climate-induced displacement now recurring realities, the UDA’s role must shift from ad-hoc construction to resilient, data-driven urban planning.
Observers argue that Hemachandra’s exposure to international development standards positions him to recalibrate the Authority’s priorities toward disaster-responsive urban design, transparent procurement systems and measurable outcomes.
His earlier service at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau further strengthens his understanding of infrastructure interdependencies, an essential requirement as flood mitigation, housing, transport and drainage can no longer be treated as isolated mandates.
Equally significant is his long-standing involvement with the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), where he currently serves as Vice President and previously chaired the IESL Policy Forum, advocating evidence-based policymaking.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Hemachandra demonstrated a hands-on approach by developing a digital support platform for Mahaweli farmers, signalling his willingness to combine technology with public service delivery. Analysts believe this experience could translate into improved project monitoring and public accountability mechanisms within the UDA.
However, expectations alone will not reform an institution. Critics’ stress that Hemachandra’s success will depend on whether he can assert independence, overhaul procurement practices, strengthen professional oversight and insulate planning decisions from political interference. In a period when climate disasters are exposing the cost of urban mismanagement, the UDA’s credibility and Hemachandra’s leadership will be judged by results, not résumés
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