President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to resume every road development project suspended in 2022 during the economic crisis, and to complete ongoing work within its stipulated timeframe.
The instruction came at a review of projects run by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development in 2026, held at the Presidential Secretariat alongside the ministry’s pre-Budget discussion for 2027. The meeting covered work funded from the Rs. 402 billion allocated to the ministry in the 2026 Budget, as well as projects launched in response to the Cyclone Ditwah disaster, according to the President’s Media Division.
Expressway network
The proposed Kurunegala–Galewela section of Phase IV of the Central Expressway and plans for the Ruwanpura Expressway were among the main items discussed. Officials also reviewed progress on the Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway, the Port Access Road and the Pothuhera–Galagedara section under Phase III.
Access and interchange connections across the network were raised, along with difficulties in the land compensation process for the Kurunegala–Galewela section.
Outside the expressway programme, the meeting looked at a proposed extension of Baseline Road from Kirulapone Junction towards Colombo–Horana, and at work on the Ampara–Uhana stretch of the Badulla–Chenkalady Road. Development of the Badulla–Bibile Road is continuing after damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
A maintenance backlog
Ministry officials told the meeting that roads are generally expected to be repaired every ten years, but that many have gone more than fifteen years without attention and now need full reconstruction rather than repair. About 130 A- and B-class roads fall into that category.
Progress on bridge and flyover construction was also reviewed.
Traffic data and rural roads
Officials discussed the Road Development Authority’s Transport Connectivity and Asset Management Project and a National Traffic Database Project intended to modernise the country’s traffic data systems. The database is expected to grow into an integrated smart traffic management system with smart signals and camera networks, developed with the police, road safety authorities and road management agencies.
On rural roads, the President said requirements identified through District Coordinating Committee meetings should be given priority when projects are selected and implemented. The meeting also considered handing responsibility for smaller roads to District Secretaries over time.
Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake attended, along with Labour Minister and Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma.
The review follows Cabinet approval last week of Rs. 1.2 billion for expressway maintenance vehicles ahead of roughly 92 kilometres of new expressway opening between 2027 and 2028.
