Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake, along with Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, inspected the ongoing development work of the Potuhera–Rambukkana section of the Central Expressway yesterday.
Minister Rathnayake announced that this section is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and urged construction companies and the Road Development Authority (RDA) to minimize inconvenience to local residents during the development process.
He also stressed the importance of prioritizing the welfare of construction workers and highlighted that, following the approval of the National Budget, all development projects will progress swiftly. Regarding the Kadawatha–Meerigama section of the Central Expressway, Minister Rathnayake mentioned that there has been no update on resuming construction due to delays in finalizing financial arrangements. The government is awaiting a response from China on this matter.
The first phase of the Central Expressway, covering a distance of 37 kilometers from Kadawatha to Mirigama, has already seen over 20% of its construction completed. Senior officials, including the Director General of the RDA and project engineers, participated in the inspection. Earlier this month, Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena informed Parliament that the Central Expressway will be completed within the five-year tenure of the NPP Government.
