Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, has dismissed reports claiming that the construction of the Ruwanpura Expressway has been abandoned, clarifying that the project has only been temporarily halted.
He stated that the government has decided not to commence construction this year, and no budgetary allocations have been made for the project in the current financial year.
The Ruwanpura Expressway was initially planned to extend from Kahathuduwa to Ratnapura via Horana and Ingiriya. However, according to the minister, the government is prioritizing development projects based on a set agenda, leading to the temporary suspension of this expressway.
Meanwhile, priority has been given to the construction of the Kurunegala–Galagedara section of the Central Expressway. This segment will be divided into two phases: Pothuhera–Rambukkana and Rambukkana–Galagedara. The deputy minister expressed hope that the Pothuhera–Rambukkana section will be completed next year, while the Rambukkana–Galagedara section is expected to be finished within three years.
Additionally, the government plans to resume work on the long-stalled Kadawatha–Meerigama section of the Central Expressway with Chinese financial assistance. Representatives from the China Exim Bank are expected to visit Sri Lanka to assess the project. (NewsWire)