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Cabinet Approves Rs. 174 Million Consultancy Contract for Sustainable Tourism Development
September 9, 2026
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a Rs. 173.86 million consultancy contract for an ADB-funded programme to develop tourism facilities in Dambulla, Sigiriya and Trincomalee.
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a Rs. 173.86 million consultancy services contract for a sustainable tourism development programme supported by a US million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The programme is designed to strengthen tourism facilities in the Dambulla-Sigiriya and Trincomalee areas, while rehabilitating and upgrading infrastructure at selected tourist attractions.
As part of the project preparation process, the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development invited expressions of interest from consultancy firms to develop detailed plans and support the implementation of the programme.
A total of 15 consultancy firms submitted expressions of interest. Following the initial assessment, six firms were invited to submit proposals, with five proposals subsequently evaluated.
Based on the evaluation, the contract was recommended for award to M/s Resources Development Consultants (Pvt) Ltd of Sri Lanka, in association with M/s Novel Interdisciplinary Consulting Enterprise (Pvt) Ltd of Sri Lanka.
The Cabinet-appointed Consultancy Procurement Committee recommended awarding the contract for Rs. 173.86 million, excluding VAT, following its evaluation of the submitted proposals.
The Cabinet subsequently approved the proposal presented by Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake, allowing the contract to be awarded in accordance with the committee’s recommendation.
The wider programme is expected to improve facilities and infrastructure at key tourism locations, potentially creating a better experience for both local and international visitors. Development in Dambulla, Sigiriya and Trincomalee could also support tourism-related businesses by improving access to attractions and strengthening facilities in areas with significant cultural, historical and natural tourism potential.
The ADB-backed initiative forms part of Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to develop a more sustainable and visitor-friendly tourism sector while improving infrastructure around major destinations.