President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to prioritise urgent public needs identified through District Coordinating Committee meetings when selecting and implementing rural road development projects.
The President also directed officials to resume all road development projects that were suspended in 2022 due to the country’s economic crisis.
The directives were issued during a progress review of projects implemented by the Ministry in 2026, held alongside the Ministry’s 2027 pre-Budget discussion at the Presidential Secretariat.
President Dissanayake stressed the need to complete road development projects within their stipulated timeframes while ensuring the public receives an efficient and reliable transport system.
According to the President’s Media Division, the meeting reviewed the progress and future plans of projects implemented under the Rs. 402 billion allocated through the 2026 Budget, as well as projects undertaken in response to the Cyclone Ditwah disaster.
Among the major projects discussed were the proposed Kurunegala–Galewela section of Phase IV of the Central Expressway and plans for the Ruwanpura Expressway. Officials also reviewed progress on the Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway, the Port Access Road and the Pothuhera–Galagedara section under Phase III of the Central Expressway.
Issues relating to access and interchange connections within the expressway network were also discussed, along with difficulties in the compensation process for the Kurunegala–Galewela section.
The proposed extension of Baseline Road from Kirulapone Junction towards Colombo–Horana and development work on the Ampara–Uhana section of the Badulla–Chenkalady Road were also reviewed.
The island-wide highway maintenance programme received further attention. Officials noted that while roads are generally expected to undergo repairs every 10 years, many have remained unrepaired for more than 15 years and now require reconstruction. Approximately 130 A- and B-class roads have reportedly not been reconstructed for 15 years.
The progress of bridge and flyover construction projects was also reviewed, along with continuing development work on the Badulla–Bibile Road following damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The meeting also discussed the Transport Connectivity and Asset Management Project implemented by the Road Development Authority and the National Traffic Database Project, which aims to improve traffic management and modernise the country’s traffic data system.
Officials said the National Traffic Database Project is expected to gradually develop into an integrated smart traffic management system incorporating smart traffic signals and camera systems, with the involvement of the Police, road safety authorities and road management agencies. The system is intended to improve traffic flow and promote greater discipline among road users.
Special attention was given to rural road development, with President Dissanayake stressing that public requirements identified through District Coordinating Committee meetings should be given priority when selecting and implementing projects. He also reviewed the progress of rural road development requests submitted through the committees.
The meeting further discussed the systematic implementation of Road Development Authority projects at district level and the possibility of gradually transferring responsibility for smaller-scale road development projects to District Secretaries.