The Kadawatha Police have arrested the main suspect in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 54‑year‑old man during a birthday party clash in Ihala Biyanwila during the weekend.

Police said the victim, a resident of Kadawatha, had attended his brother’s birthday celebration when a heated argument escalated into violence.

Two individuals allegedly attacked partygoers with sharp weapons, leaving the victim fatally injured and two others seriously wounded. 

The injured were admitted to Ragama Teaching Hospital during which the victim had succumbed to injuries.

Investigations revealed that the dispute during the party led to the brutal assault. 

While the main suspect has been taken into custody, police confirmed that the second suspect fled the scene and is being pursued. (Newswire)

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Construction of the first phase of Sri Lanka’s Central Expressway, covering the stretch from Kadawatha to Mirigama, has reached 48% completion, the Ministry of Transport and Highways said.

“Plans are underway to complete the Kadawatha interchange by the beginning of 2027 and to finish the Kadawatha–Mirigama stretch by mid‑2028, vesting it with the public,” the ministry said in a video message.

The ministry explained that once this section is complete, the Southern Expressway and the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway will connect to the Central Expressway through the Outer Circular Road, creating a seamless national expressway network.

The ministry noted that with the completion of the Port Access Road, the public will be able to travel conveniently to Colombo, Katunayake, Kurunegala, and Mattala via the expressways. (Newswire)

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The Road Development Authority (RDA) has informed that construction of a bridge in the Bandarawatte area in Kadawatha on the Colombo – Kandy main road, as part of the Central Expressway Project, will be carried out in two stages. 

According to the Police, the RDA has informed that the construction will be conducted for a period of three months from today (01) until 31st January 2026. 

As such, the relevant road sections will be closed during the night, while alternate traffic arrangements have been announced for the convenience of motorists. 

Accordingly, during the first one and a half months of the construction work, one lane of the two-lane road in the Bandarawatte area in Kadawatha on the Colombo to Kandy will be closed for traffic. 

During the next one and a half-month period, construction work will be carried out from the Kandy side towards Colombo, during which one lane will be closed for traffic.

Therefore, as one lane in each direction will be closed, causing the roads to become operational with reduced capacity, it is expected that there will be significant traffic congestion during the said construction period.

Accordingly, motorists who use the Colombo – Kandy road during this period are advised to use alternative roads. (Newswire)

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The construction of the Kadawatha- Mirigama Section of the Central Expressway resumed today (17) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

The event marking the launch took place at the Kadawatha interchange premises, which was also attended by Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake.

Although the second phase of this expressway, which began construction in 2016, has now been opened, the first phase has faced delays due to various reasons.

Construction of the 168.7-kilometre Central Expressway began in 2016 under a loan agreement of USD 989 million approved by the China Exim Bank. The project consists of four phases.

The first phase spans 37 kilometres from Kadawatha to Mirigama. The second phase includes 39.7 kilometres from Mirigama to Kurunegala and 9.1 kilometres from Mirigama to Ambepussa.

The third phase extends 32.5 kilometres from Potuhera to Galagedara, while the fourth phase covers 60.3 kilometres from Kurunegala to Dambulla.

Following the commencement of construction, the second phase, from Mirigama to Kurunegala, was opened to the public on January 15, 2022.

However, due to subsequent political instability, economic crisis, and a shortage of workers, construction on the first phase, from Kadawatha to Mirigama, was halted. This was primarily due to the suspension of funding by the China Exim Bank.

With approximately 20% of the work completed on the Kadawatha–Mirigama section, the China Exim Bank has now approved a new loan in yuan equivalent to USD 500 million to resume construction.

The Kadawatha–Mirigama section is scheduled to be completed and opened to the public by 2028. (Newswire)

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