The Central Expressway: Work to Commence in September

Sri Lanka’s Long-Awaited Game-Changer-Faster, More Efficient Travel & Logistics

Once completed, the Central Expressway will cut travel times between Colombo and key cities like Kurunegala, Kandy, and Dambulla. Commuters, logistics companies, and tourists will all benefit from the shorter, smoother route — much like the transformation seen after the Southern Expressway opened, which doubled some farmers’ weekly market earnings by allowing more trips.

Economic Growth and Real Estate Uplift

Areas along the route, such as Gampaha and Mirigama, are already seeing rising land prices and property development. The expressway is expected to attract investment in tourism, manufacturing, and services, creating jobs and boosting regional economies.

Regional Development and Integration

With four planned segments — Kadawatha–Mirigama, Mirigama–Kurunegala, Potuhera–Rambukkana, and Rambukkana–Galagedara — the expressway will connect central and northern Sri Lanka more effectively. This is expected to help balance economic development across regions.

Challenges and Considerations

Delays and Financing Issues: Work began in 2015 but stalled due to contractual disputes, loan problems, and rising costs.

Construction Quality Concerns: Incidents such as a beam collapse in the Kurunegala–Kandy section have raised safety questions.

Environmental and Social Impacts: Land acquisition, resettlement, and landscape disruption remain sensitive issues requiring careful management.

Latest Update

The government will begin construction on the first 500 metres of the Kadawatha–Mirigama section in September, according to Deputy Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Prasanna Gunasena. Speaking in Battaramulla at a ceremony handing over land deeds to 16 families displaced by the project, Gunasena said the expressway faced numerous delays due to financial and contractual issues.

“When we came to power, we inherited a stalled government,” he said. “The collapse of the country meant there was no environment to start any national projects. This expressway also had many issues — from the contractor to the lending bank and project deadlines — which have now been resolved.”

The expressway remains a key development priority for the current administration.