Ruwanpura Expressway unrealistic in foreseeable future

• The project initiated during 2005-2010 has only progressed to the land acquisition stage

By Kelum Bandara

Resumption of work on the Ruwanpura Expressway linking Colombo with the Ratnapura District is unrealistic in the foreseeable future, Daily Mirror learns.

The project, initially mooted during the 2005-2010 period of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, has progressed only up to the land acquisition level at the moment.

Currently, after the conclusion of the debt restructuring process, the government has started talks with creditor nations such as Japan and China for the resumption of projects that were stalled due to the economic crisis.
A top official of the Transport and Highways Ministry said a Japanese delegation visited the Ministry to discuss the resumption of work on the stalled projects. However, he said no decision is yet to be taken on the Ruwanpura Expressway project and the Kurunegala–Galagedara stretch of the Central Expressway.

He said discussions are underway with EXIM Bank of China for the resumption of work on the Kadawatha-Mirigama stretch of the Central Expressway.