Central Expressway resumption a milestone of Sri Lanka-China friendship under BRI

THE full resumption of construction on Section I of the Central Expressway, linking Kadawatha to Mirigama on 17 September 2025, is far more than an infrastructure update; it is a powerful symbol of Sri Lanka’s economic renewal and a testament to the enduring friendship and strategic cooperation between Sri Lanka and China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

- By Maya Majueran

This project, long-awaited by citizens and crucial for national connectivity, stands as a beacon of progress emerging from a period of significant challenge.

The Central Expressway, ultimately linking the country’s capital Colombo and the second largest city Kandy, will be the trunk expressway of the country and knit the existing three expressways into a national network of expressways.

Sri Lanka was among the first nations to embrace the BRI, recognising its natural alignment with its own national development strategy. This foresight is built upon a deep and longstanding history of mutual support. The foundation of our economic partnership was laid decades ago with the groundbreaking Rubber-Rice Pact of 1952. At a time when Sri Lanka was confronting food security challenges and China needed vital resources, this barter agreement provided a stable, mutually beneficial solution. It was a bold move that defied the pressures of the era and established a powerful precedent: that China and Sri Lanka could be relied upon as partners in times of need.

This legacy of pragmatic cooperation has been amplified under the BRI framework, yielding a tangible transformation of its national landscape. For generations, other key infrastructure projects remained on drawing boards, stalled by a lack of funding and technical capability. The modern BRI partnership has changed that narrative. From the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) that revitalised its port’s competitiveness to the Southern Expressway that connected the south to the economic heartland, and the iconic Lotus Tower that defines the Colombo skyline, Chinese partnership has been indispensable in turning vision into reality.