The Cabinet of Ministers has greenlit the "10 Cities Development Program," a Rs. 1.475 billion initiative designed to boost urban branding and tourism in 10 selected Sri Lankan towns. This program will utilize a data-driven approach, identifying 217 projects for modernization and the creation of distinctive urban identities to enhance economic and tourism appeal. The included cities are Jaffna, Matale, Hatton, Batticaloa, Chilaw, Thambuttegama, Vavuniya, Eheliyagoda, Badulla, and Matara, with Rs. 500 million of the allocation already budgeted. This effort complements a separate Rs. 1.3 billion budget for major city redevelopment, emphasizing that development will be tailored to each city's unique characteristics rather than adopting a uniform model.