Saturday Jun 06, 2026
Saturday Jun 06, 2026
Saturday, 6 June 2026 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Cabinet of Ministers have approved repairing and restoring street lighting along key sections of the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,098.50 million, in a move aimed at improving road safety on one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.
Announcing the decision at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the project will be implemented in two phases through contracted work, focusing initially on the most critical stretches of the expressway.
Given the high cost of lighting the entire length of the highway, he said the authorities have prioritised key interchanges and high-traffic segments in the first phase.
“These include the Peliyagoda, Kerawalapitiya, Seeduwa and Ja-Ela interchanges, as well as the stretches from the New Kelani Bridge to the Peliyagoda Fish Market and from Seeduwa to the Bandaranaike International Airport,” he added.
Dr. Jayatissa said around 85% of the expressway’s lighting system is currently non-functional, largely due to vandalism and theft. He noted that significant portions of the highway have remained in darkness for extended periods, raising safety concerns for motorists and commuters.
