Cabinet approves Rs. 1.2 b to procure 21 vehicles to strengthen expressway operations

Wednesday, 12 August 2026 06:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a Rs. 1.2 billion procurement program to purchase 21 vehicles and machinery required for the operation and maintenance of the country’s expanding expressway network.

These include four double-cabin pickup trucks (two traffic management vehicles, one toll collection vehicle and one Police vehicle), two highway ambulances, two aerial work platform trucks, two telescopic boom trucks, two pavement cleaning vehicles, two highway cleaning water jetting trucks, two fire trucks; three tow trucks/accident recovery trucks and two highway boom lifts.

The move comes as the country prepares for the opening of several major expressway sections over the next two years, while some of the equipment currently used on existing expressways has become outdated after nearly a decade of service.

Sri Lanka currently has around 312 kilometres of expressways in operation, which have been progressively developed over the past 10 years.

A further approximately 92 kilometres of expressway is scheduled to be opened during 2027–2028, comprising the Port Access Expressway, the Central Expressway Section I from Kadawatha to Mirigama, and Central Expressway Section III from Pothuhera to Galagedara.

“With the expansion of the network, the Road Development Authority (RDA) has identified an urgent requirement for additional vehicles and machinery to support routine operations, maintenance and emergency response on the newly constructed expressways,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

He said the RDA has also identified the need to replace some vehicles and machinery currently deployed on the existing expressway network, as a portion of the equipment has reached an advanced age and is no longer considered adequate for continued operations.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake.