The Cabinet has approved the next phase of the Central Expressway covering the Rambukkana–Galagedara stretch, with full funding of Rs. 112 billion to be provided entirely by the Government of Sri Lanka without resorting to new loans, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced on May 12.
“The ultimate proof of our economic recovery. What was once a distant dream is now a funded reality thanks to the Ministry of Finance’s strategic leadership over the last 18 months,” the minister said in a post on X.
The Rambukkana–Galagedara section forms a critical part of the Central Expressway project, which is intended to strengthen connectivity between Colombo and Kandy. The earlier phase from Rambukkana to Galagedara was cleared to begin construction in May, with today’s Cabinet decision providing the financing backing.
Cabinet also approved the award of seven construction packages on the 13+800 km to 32+450 km Rambukkana–Galagedara section, EconomyNext reported. Maga Engineering was awarded two packages (Package 2A at Rs. 14.90 billion and Package 2G at Rs. 19.10 billion, both excluding VAT). The remaining packages went to K D A Weerasinghe & Co (2B, Rs. 14.71 billion), International Construction Consortium (2C, Rs. 14.12 billion), NEM Construction (2D, Rs. 16.39 billion), Access Engineering (2E, Rs. 18.70 billion) and Edward & Christie (2F, Rs. 14.52 billion).
In a parallel update, the Ministry of Transport and Highways said construction of the Kadawatha–Mirigama stretch — the first phase of the Central Expressway network — has reached 48 percent completion. The ministry said it plans to complete the Kadawatha interchange by the beginning of 2027 and to finish the Kadawatha–Mirigama section by mid-2028, when it will be vested with the public.
Once the Kadawatha–Mirigama section is complete, the Southern Expressway and the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway will connect to the Central Expressway through the Outer Circular Road, creating a continuous national expressway network. With the addition of the Port Access Road, the ministry said travellers will be able to move between Colombo, Katunayake, Kurunegala and Mattala via expressways.
Sources: Newswire — Cabinet approves Rs. 112 Bn Central Expressway phase without new loans; Newswire — Kadawatha–Mirigama Central Expressway stretch 48% complete; EconomyNext — Sri Lanka awards central expressway contracts to Maga, Access, and others.
