President Dissanayake orders resumption of suspended road projects

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to resume all road development projects that were suspended in 2022 due to the country’s economic crisis. During a progress review of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, the President emphasized the need to prioritize urgent public needs identified at District Coordinating Committee meetings when implementing rural road projects.

The review included discussions on the Rs. 402 billion allocation from the 2026 Budget and projects related to the Cyclone Ditwah disaster. Key infrastructure projects under discussion include the Kurunegala–Galewela section of Phase IV of the Central Expressway, the Ruwanpura Expressway, and the Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway.

Officials also addressed issues regarding expressway interchange connections, compensation processes for the Kurunegala–Galewela section, and the extension of Baseline Road. Additionally, the meeting covered the development of the Ampara–Uhana section of the Badulla–Chenkalady Road and the status of the island-wide highway maintenance programme.