The Netherlands has granted an additional EUR 730,000 to Sri Lanka, bringing its total grant contribution for the rural bridges project to over EUR 18.9 million. This latest grant, which accounts for about 37% of the total project cost, is part of a larger effort to assist Sri Lanka with its debt burden. The project is a key initiative to enhance mobility and connectivity in rural communities by constructing 162 bridges.
The construction of the first section of the Central Expressway (E04), a 37-kilometer stretch from Kadawatha to Mirigama, is set to resume in September or October. The project had been stalled for over three years due to Sri Lanka's economic crisis. The revival is made possible by renewed financial assistance from China, confirmed by the President's Senior Economic Adviser, Duminda Hulangamuwa.
Construction has officially commenced on the "Rividanavi" Solar Power Park in Siyambalanduwa, marking a significant step toward Sri Lanka's goal of generating 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The project, inaugurated by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is set to become the nation's largest renewable energy initiative, with a 100 MW capacity and an investment of USD 140 million.
The development work on the Sri Lanka–Japan Friendship Road in Battaramulla was officially launched on Thursday, August 28, under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Prasanna Gunasena.
