Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake has told NewsWire that the Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway could be opened to the public by April 2028.
The Minister made the remarks while speaking to NewsWire during an inspection tour of the ongoing construction work on the expressway.
The 37-kilometre stretch, which forms the first phase of the Central Expressway, is among Sri Lanka’s long-delayed major infrastructure projects.
Construction resumed in September 2025 after being suspended due to the country’s economic crisis and funding difficulties.
According to an update from the Ministry of Transport and Highways in August 2026, physical progress had exceeded 53%, with authorities targeting 65% completion by the end of 2026 and 95% by the end of 2027.
The government has allocated Rs. 66.15 billion for the project under the 2026 Budget.
The section is expected to connect the Central Expressway with the Southern Expressway and Colombo–Katunayake Expressway through the Outer Circular Highway, improving connectivity between Colombo and the country’s central regions.
Earlier, in September 2026, Minister Ratnayake told Parliament that the Kadawatha–Mirigama section was expected to be completed by May 2028.
His latest comments to NewsWire indicate that the section could be opened a month earlier, in time for April 2028. (Newswire)