The government has green-lit a two-phase initiative to repair 14 cyclone-damaged bridges across five provinces, with China providing financial support for the undertaking.
The cabinet has formally approved a restoration project targeting 14 bridges damaged by Cyclone Ditwah in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, North Central, and Eastern provinces. The initiative represents a significant infrastructure recovery effort in the aftermath of the cyclone's impact on the country's bridge network.
China has committed to providing financial assistance for the reconstruction work, pledging approximately 7,929 million Renminbi toward the project. According to government sources, the repair initiative will be executed across two phases, with the first phase scheduled to span 18 months and focus on restoring nine of the damaged bridges.
The Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development presented the proposal to cabinet, leading to its formal approval as an official government undertaking. An agreement is expected to be signed between the ministry and the Chinese government to formalize the financial arrangement and project terms. The multi-phase approach suggests that the second phase will address the remaining five bridges, though specific details regarding its timeline and scope have not yet been disclosed.
