Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, has dismissed reports that construction of the Ruwanpura Expressway has been abandoned, clarifying that the project has only been temporarily suspended due to budget constraints and shifting priorities in infrastructure development.
Dr. Gunasena stated that the expressway project from Kahathuduwa to Ratnapura via Horana and Ingiriya will not commence this year, as no financial allocation has been made for it in the current budget. He emphasized that the government is prioritizing other key infrastructure projects, particularly the Kurunegala-Galagedara section of the Central Expressway.
The construction of the Central Expressway will be carried out in two phases: the Pothuhera-Rambukkana section, which is expected to be completed next year, and the Rambukkana-Galagedara section, which is expected to take three years to finish.
Additionally, work on the Kadawatha-Mirigama section—which has been stalled for a long time—will resume with financial assistance from China. Representatives from the Chinese Exim Bank are expected to visit Sri Lanka to assess the progress and funding requirements for the project.
Meanwhile, a portion of the Kadawatha-Mirigama section that collapsed during previous development work is currently undergoing repairs at a cost of Rs. 7 billion, according to the Deputy Minister.
While the Ruwanpura Expressway remains a long-term infrastructure goal, its construction will resume only when funding becomes available and other high-priority projects are completed.
