President orders resumption of Sri Lanka road projects suspended in 2022

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to resume all road development projects suspended in 2022 due to the economic crisis and prioritise urgent public needs when implementing rural road projects.

The President issued the directives during a progress review of projects implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development in 2026 and its 2027 pre-Budget discussion, held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday (August 11).

He also stressed the need to complete all road development projects within the stipulated timeframes and provide the public with an efficient and reliable transport system.

The meeting extensively reviewed the progress and future plans of projects implemented under the Rs. 402 billion allocated to the Ministry through the 2026 Budget and in response to the Cyclone Ditwah disaster situation.

Discussions were held on the proposed Kurunegala–Galewela section under Phase IV of the Central Expressway and plans for the Ruwanpura Expressway.

The current status and progress of several expressway projects were also reviewed, including the Kadawatha–Meerigama section of the Central Expressway, the Port Access Road and the Pothuhera–Galagedara section under Phase III of the Central Expressway.

Issues relating to access and interchange connections within the expressway network, possible solutions and difficulties in the compensation process connected to the construction of the Kurunegala–Galewela section were also discussed.

Attention was also given to the project to extend Baseline Road from Kirulapone Junction to the Colombo–Horana Road and development work on the Ampara–Uhana section of the Badulla–Chenkalady Road.

The island-wide highway maintenance programme was also reviewed.

Ministry officials pointed out that although roads should generally be repaired every 10 years, many have not undergone repairs for more than 15 years and now require reconstruction.

It was revealed that around 130 A- and B-class roads have not undergone reconstruction for 15 years.

The current progress of bridge and flyover construction projects implemented under the Ministry was also reviewed.

Attention was also given to continuing development work on the Badulla–Bibile Road while addressing the situation that has arisen in the area following Cyclone Ditwah.

The meeting further discussed the Transport Connectivity and Asset Management Project implemented under the Road Development Authority, as well as the National Traffic Database Project.

The National Traffic Database Project is aimed at improving traffic management on roads and in urban areas while modernising the existing traffic data system.

It is expected to be further developed in the coming years into an integrated smart traffic management system incorporating smart traffic signals and camera systems, with the participation of the Police, road safety authorities and road management agencies.

The initiative is intended to improve traffic flow and promote a disciplined road culture.

Special attention was also given to ongoing rural road development projects.

President Dissanayake instructed officials to prioritise urgent public requirements identified at District Coordinating Committee meetings when implementing these projects.

He also reviewed the progress of rural road development requests submitted through District Coordinating Committee meetings.

The meeting discussed the importance of systematically implementing Road Development Authority projects at district level and the possibility of gradually transferring responsibility for the development of smaller roads to District Secretaries.

Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma and Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Engineer Asiri Karunawardena were present.

Officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development also attended the meeting.