Baseline Road Stage III extension gets green light

Thursday, 22 January 2026 04:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the recommencement of construction work on Stage III of the Baseline Road Extension Project, which had been temporarily suspended amid the economic crisis.

Approval for the construction of the six-lane, 0.86-kilometre road stretch from Kirulapone Junction to Dutugemunu Mawatha on the Colombo–Horana Road was originally granted by the Cabinet on 11 November 2009, as part of Stage III of the project.

Construction activities were halted in 2022 following a recommendation by the Re-Strategisation and Acceleration Officer Committee of Large-Scale Development Projects, due to the severe economic challenges faced by the country at the time.

“The project has since been identified as a priority infrastructure development under the National Road Master Plan. According to officials, approximately 90% of the land acquisition required for the road construction has already been completed,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the decision at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

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