Sri Lanka Approves US$319.46 Mln Link-road Project For Central Expressway

COLOMBO, Aug 25 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to develop a network of link roads connecting three sections of the Central Expressway with existing roads in the Western, Central and North Western Provinces.

The project, estimated to cost a provisional 104.9 billion Sri Lankan rupees (319.46 million U.S. dollars), is scheduled to be implemented from 2026 to 2030 under a proposal submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.

A total of 35 link roads covering 283.02 km are planned under the project, aimed at strengthening connections between the expressway and the road network while improving accessibility and traffic flow.

The Central Expressway has been planned in four main sections, with Section I running from Kadawatha to Meerigama, Section II from Meerigama to Kurunegala, Section III from Pothuhera toward Galagedara and Section IV from Kurunegala to Dambulla.

The four-section structure was adopted as part of the government's implementation plan for the expressway. The government has also moved ahead with work on other parts of the expressway in 2026. Cabinet approval was granted in March for measures to accelerate the 58.6-km Kurunegala-Dambulla Section IV, while contracts for the Rambukkana-Galagedara phase of Section III were approved in May. 

--NNN-Xinhua