President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says steps have been taken to recommence numerous road development projects that were suspended due to the economic crisis, resulting in various complications.
Presenting the Appropriation Bill for the 2026 financial year in Parliament today, the President said measures have been taken to resolve the issues and recommence the implementation of these projects.
The projects to be recommenced are as follows;
- Central Expressway Phase 1-
The government has decided to provide financial facilities for the construction of the Kadawatha- Mirigama section of the Central Expressway. Development work has already commenced, with the state having allocated Rs. 66.150 million for the year 2026.
- Central Expressway Phase 3-
The construction of the Pihtuhera- Rambukkana section of the Central Expressway Phase 3 from Pothuhera- Galagedera is slated to be completed in the first quarter of 2027. The government has allocated Rs. 10,500 million for this purpose.
It has been proposed to commence construction work on the Rambukkana- Galagedera section using domestic funding from the Road Development Authority. The government has allocated Rs. 20,000 million for this purpose.
- Katugasthota-Galagedera road section-
The necessary feasibility studies for the widening of the Katugasthota-Galagedera road section are scheduled to commence next year. In parallel with the construction of the Kandy Multi-Modal Transport Centre, provisions have been made in this budget to widen and upgrade several access roads leading to Kandy City.
- Kurunegala- Dambulla proposed expressway-
The government has allocated Rs. 1000 million to complete the land acquisition process for the proposed Kurunegala- Dambulla expressway, which has already commenced.
- Ruwanpura Expressway – First section of Kahathuduwa to Ingiriya:
It has been proposed to reassess the improvement of the existing access road from Kahathuduwa to Ingiriya, based on a review of the feasibility study conducted in 2018 and further analysis of the information derived from the study. The government has allocated Rs. 1500 million for this purpose.
- Feasibility study on the construction of the link between the Port Access Elevated Highway and the Marine Drive extension:
The government has allocated Rs. 330 million to conduct a feasibility study on constructing a link between the Port City end of the Port Access Elevated Highway and the Marine Drive. (Newswire)
