Restoration work on the historic Kabellawatta old stone bridge along the Rambukkana–Mawanella main road has reached its final stage, according to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development.

The Rambukkana–Mawanella road is slated for future development into a dual carriageway in parallel with the Central Expressway project, making the restoration of the bridge a critical requirement. 

Construction work was undertaken during periods when train services were suspended, allowing uninterrupted progress.

Authorities said the original stone bridge has been removed, with plans to construct a replica at an adjacent location to preserve its heritage value.

The project is being carried out with the joint intervention of the Road Development Authority, Sri Lanka Railways Department, and the Department of Archaeology. 

Once completed, the bridge will facilitate both rail and road transport: trains will run over the restored structure, while vehicles will pass underneath.

The MInistry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development said that completion is expected by November 2026. (Newswire)

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Five beach access roads in Dehiwala have been formally named as part of a new initiative to accurately identify and map public routes to Sri Lanka’s beaches. 

According to the Ministry of Environment, the move is designed to prevent illegal coastal encroachments and obstructions, ensuring the public’s and tourists’ right to unobstructed beach access. 

Officials noted that the system will also help rescue teams reach locations more quickly during natural disasters or emergencies along the coastline.

Alongside the road‑naming, several environmental programmes were rolled out, including the planting of coastal‑resilient vegetation to maintain ecological balance and minimize erosion caused by waves and winds. Deep‑rooted plants are expected to enhance biodiversity while creating a natural green barrier against harsh sunlight and saline winds. 

A massive community cleanup campaign (Shramadana) was also launched to remove plastics and polythene, transforming Mount Lavinia beach into a cleaner, safer zone.

The series of conservation activities was held on Thursday (11) around Dehiwala beach under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, coinciding with World Environment Day. 

Parallel to these efforts, the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management organized the World Environment Day commemoration ceremony at the S. de S. Jayasinghe Hall of the Dehiwala Municipal Council.

In Hambantota, a sand dune area near Magama was declared a protected zone via gazette notification, officially announced at the National Environment Day Commemoration Ceremony on June 5, 2026, under the patronage of the President.

Further nationwide projects are underway, including the construction of 100 beach recreational parks, 39 of which were opened to the public in 2025, and plans for “Ocean Pool” facilities to provide safe sea‑bathing areas and reduce drowning incidents along the coast. (Newswire)

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The Nawalpitiya–Kandy main road, which was blocked by a landslide caused by Cyclone Ditwah, was reopened for traffic today (15 Dec) after 18 days.

The soil that fell onto the road due to the landslide has been cleared, and the road has been restored. 

However, reports indicate that there is still a risk of further landslides from the slope above, and until permanent solutions are provided, the road has been made safe only for controlled travel.

The Road Development Authority has requested drivers to operate vehicles cautiously until work at the site is fully completed.

It was also noted that restrictions have been imposed on the movement of heavy vehicles along this road.

The repair work was carried out with the participation of the Road Development Authority, the 6th Engineering Regiment, Nawalpitiya and Athgala Police Stations, and the Pasbage Korale Pradeshiya Sabha. (Newswire)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to expedite the allocation of funds for the repair of damaged roads, culverts, and embankments in the Nuwara Eliya District, and to ensure that all restoration work is completed before the end of this year.

He made these remarks during a discussion held to assess the damage to roads in the Nuwara Eliya District and to determine the urgent measures that need to be taken in response.

The discussion was held this morning (08) at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat between the President and the relevant officials.

During the meeting, lengthy discussions were held on the time required to repair all roads in the district that were damaged due to Cyclone Ditva.

The President inquired from officials about the roads that cannot be reopened through ordinary repairs, and requested that a detailed report be submitted on the matter.

Officials also pointed out that reports from the National Building Research Organization should be taken into consideration when constructing certain roads and bridges in the Nuwara Eliya District. (Newswire)

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The road to Colombo from the Devi Balika Vidyalaya roundabout to the D.S. Senanayake Junction in Borella will be closed from today (01), the Police said.

According to the Police, the road will be completely closed to traffic from 07.00 pm. 

The closure is due to repairs on the cracks and a sunken area on the said road. (Newswire)

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Development work on the Sri Lanka–Japan Friendship Road in Battaramulla was officially launched on Thursday (28), under the aegis of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Prasanna Gunasena.

The road development is being conducted under the guidance of the Ministry of Transport and Highways, and is supervised by the Colombo Chief Engineering Office of the Road Development Authority (RDA). 

The Sri Lanka–Japan Friendship Road in Battaramulla, spanning 2 kilometres, is being developed with a carpeted surface at an estimated cost of Rs. 203 million.

According to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, funded by the Government of Sri Lanka, the development is expected to be completed within the next six months. 

The ministry further said that all renovation work is scheduled to be finalized before February 9, 2026. (Newswire)

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The two inbound lanes to Colombo from the Devi Balika Vidyalaya roundabout to the D.S. Senanayake Junction in Borella have been closed, the Police said.

According to the Police, the road has been closed due to cracks and a sunken area, while repairs have commenced.

The Police have urged motorists to use alternative routes. (Newswire)

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari asserted on Monday that Indian road infrastructure will be comparable to America’s in another two years, backing his argument that his government has ramped up spending on roads and highways over the past decade.

“The question is not about the facelift, it has already changed. You have just watched the news reel, the main picture is yet to start. The projects in the pipeline are progressing rapidly. In another two years, you will be able to see that Indian road infrastructure will be similar to that of America,” Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari told ANI in an interview, on being asked when the face of Indian roads can completely change.

“Some people from America met me and said our infrastructure is better than America,” he supplemented.

The Minister said that the good roads laid out by his government have reduced logistics costs in India, adding that it will further improve export competitiveness.

“If we raise our exports, it will improve our agricultural sector, manufacturing, and services, among all other sectors,” he said.

The minister said the main concern in India was the high logistics cost–16 per cent, against China’s 8 per cent and the US and European countries’ 12 per cent.

“Our roads were not good, our ports were not good. Traffic congestion raised costs,” he said.

With improved roads, Mr Gadkari said the BJP-led government brought down the logistics costs to 9 per cent.

“This reduced cost will make us export competitive,” he reiterated.

Speaking of works in the offing, the minister said 25 greenfield expressways, a 3,000 km port connectivity highway, and Rs 1 lakh crore worth of roads connecting religious tourism circuits are underway.

He spoke of connecting Buddhist circuits and Char Dhams with good all-weather roads.

“We are developing 36 tunnels between Jammu and Srinagar; 23 have been completed, and works for another 4-5 are underway,” Mr Gadkari said. “We are developing 15 ropeways under Parvatmala Yojana, besides 35 multi-modal logistics parks.”.

Public infrastructure is the backbone of economic development, enhancing connectivity, trade, and overall quality of life. India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, has made remarkable progress in infrastructure development over the past decade.

The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), launched in 2021, is designed to bring together various Ministries, including Railways and Roadways, to ensure integrated planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects.

India has the second-largest road network in the world, and its National Highways span a total length of about 146,000 km, forming the primary arterial network of the country.

According to a ministry statement in early February 2025, India’s National Highway (NH) network expanded from 65,569 km in 2004 to 91,287 km in 2014 and 1,46,145 km in 2024.

National highway stretches with four or more lanes grew 2.6 times from 18,371 km in 2014 to 48,422 km in 2024.

Operational High-Speed Corridors increased from 93 km in 2014 to 2,138 km in 2024.

National highway construction pace rose 2.8 times from 12.1 km/day in 2014-15 to 33.8 km/day in 2023-24. (NDTV)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has terminated the case filed challenging the illegal opening of roads within the Wilpattu National Park as public thoroughfares, ruling in favour of the petitioners and ending a 15-year-long trial. 

A petition was filed by Environmental Foundation Ltd, together with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, the Wilderness and Protected Areas Foundation, and environmentalist Thilak Kariyawasam, stating that the unauthorised roads were a clear violation of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.

According to Environmental Foundation Ltd, on Tuesday (07 May), the State’s undertakings were formally recorded before the Supreme Court, after which the case was terminated, bringing a nearly 15-year legal struggle to a successful close.

In a statement, the Environmental Conservation Organisation said that Deputy Solicitor General Dr. Avanti Perera recorded the following statements in the Supreme Court:

• Public “through traffic” across the park will not be permitted.
• Entry into the park is restricted to members of the armed forces and police performing lawful duties. All other entries must comply with the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
• There is no objection to the road being maintained as a gravel road, with any necessary repairs carried out in that form.

The organisation further said that the case sets a powerful precedent that Sri Lanka’s protected areas cannot be compromised for unauthorised development and that it reaffirms that environmental laws must be upheld in all national planning and decision-making processes.

The Wilpattu National Park is Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest national park, renowned for its unique biodiversity and archaeological significance. It features a unique network of natural lakes (villus), diverse salinity levels, and habitats that support a rich array of wildlife, including leopards, elephants, sloth bears, and countless migratory and resident bird species. Its ecological significance earned it the Ramsar Wetland status in 2013. (Newswire)

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