Sri Lanka has restarted work on the long-delayed Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake inaugurating the project on Tuesday (17).
The 37-kilometer stretch, abandoned for more than three years, is being revived with a Rs. 229.5 billion investment — a mix of concessional financing from China’s Exim Bank and local capital. In addition, the Kadawatha interchange, a critical link in the network, is being fully funded domestically at Rs. 8.7 billion.
Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, addressing the ceremony, emphasized that the project carried symbolic weight beyond infrastructure.
“This is more than a road. It represents the strength of China–Sri Lanka friendship,” he said, describing the expressway as a “landmark of national rejuvenation” and a “top priority” for Colombo’s new administration.
Preliminary land preparation and restoration works, worth Rs. 7.5 billion, have already been completed. Officials say the resumption signals not only an infrastructure boost but also a renewed phase in China–Sri Lanka cooperation.
