President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials of the Ministry of Highways to prioritise urgent public needs identified at District Coordinating Committee meetings when implementing rural road development projects and to resume all road development projects that were suspended in 2022 due to the country’s economic turmoil.
The President issued these directives while participating in a progress review of projects implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development in 2026, together with the Ministry’s 2027 pre-Budget discussion, held today (11) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The President further emphasised 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 through the 2026 Budget and in response to the Ditwah disaster situation for the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.
The proposed Kurunegala–Galewela section under Phase IV of the Central Expressway and plans for the Ruwanpura Expressway were also discussed. The current status and progress of several expressway development projects were reviewed extensively, including construction of the Kadawatha–Meerigama section of the Central Expressway, the Port Access Road and the Pothuhera–Galagedara section under Phase III of the Central Expressway.
The meeting also discussed issues relating to access and interchange connections within the expressway network, possible solutions to these challenges and difficulties encountered in the compensation process associated with the construction of the Kurunegala–Galewela section.
The project to extend Baseline Road from the Kirulapone Junction to Colombo–Horana, as well as development work on the Ampara–Uhana section of the Badulla–Chenkalady Road, were also discussed.
The island-wide highway maintenance programme was also discussed. Ministry officials pointed out that, although roads should be repaired every 10 years, many have not undergone any repairs for more than 15 years and are now in need of reconstruction. It was revealed that approximately 130 A- and Bclass roads have not undergone any 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 implemente under the Road Development Authority, as well as the National Traffic Database Project, which aims to improve traffic management on roads and in urban areas and modernise the existing traffic data system. It was noted that the National Traffic Database Project is expected to be further developed over 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 aims to improve traffic flow and promote a disciplined road culture.
Special attention was given to ongoing rural road development projects. The President stressed the need to prioritise public requirements identified at District Coordinating Committee meetings when
implementing such projects.
The President also reviewed the progress of requests relating to rural road development submitted at District Coordinating Committee meetings.
The meeting further 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, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Engineer Asiri Karunawardena and officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development were also present. (PMD)