The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation
The Minister provided figures on flyovers and road tunnels, stating that 12 highway flyovers, 16 railway flyovers and 20 road tunnels have been constructed at estimated costs of Rs. 21.1 billion, Rs. 23.9 billion and Rs. 8.2 billion respectively. He said five pedestrian flyovers, but no vehicular flyovers, have been built in the Kurunegala District, and listed their locations near schools. He clarified that a 2008 foundation-stone ceremony for a proposed flyover was organized by the then political authority, not the RDA or Ministry, and said the project is now in the 2023–2030 Action Plan with planning, estimates and land acquisition under way. He also noted planned commencement in 2026 of a flyover near the Kurunegala railway crossing at Munaththettugala, resolution of funding issues for the Getambe flyover, and near-completion of the Kohuwala flyover.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the reply is as follows.
¶ 02 (a) (i) Number of flyovers across highways: 12. Number of flyovers across railways: 16. Number of road tunnels constructed across highways: 20.
¶ 03 (ii) Expenditure: - 12 highway flyovers: approximately Rs. 21,131.80 million (about Rs. 21 billion). - 16 railway flyovers: approximately Rs. 23.9 billion. - 20 tunnels: approximately Rs. 8.2 billion.
¶ 04 (b) (i) In the Kurunegala District, across national highways under the Road Development Authority, 05 pedestrian flyovers have been constructed. No vehicular flyovers.
¶ 05 (ii) Locations (pedestrian flyovers): - Kadahapola–Rambawa Road, near Siyambalagaskotuwa Madina School. - Kalugamuwa–Wilakatupotha–Bamunakotuwa Road (at the 15th km), near Bamunakotuwa School. - Nikaweratiya–Moragollagama–Siyambalangamuwa Road (at the 23rd km), near Yapahuwa School. - Ibbagamuwa–Kumbukgate–Madagalla Road, near Polpithigama School. - Ambepussa–Kurunegala–Trincomalee Road, near Gokarella School.
¶ 06 (iii) Yes. The then political authority proposed such a flyover in 2008.
¶ 07 (iv) The Road Development Authority (RDA) did not organize any such ceremony, nor did any RDA official participate. There is no information that the Ministry of Highways organized it either. However, background records note that on 2008.03.01, at the direction of the then Minister of Highways Hon. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, with the participation of the State Minister of Highways Hon. T.B. Ekanayake, a ceremony was organized by the then political authority at the site and a foundation stone was laid. The RDA did not organize that event.
¶ 08 (v) Not applicable per (b)(iv).
¶ 09 (vi) It is included in the 2023–2030 Action Plan. Preliminary planning and estimates are being prepared by the Central Province Planning Division. Land acquisition activities have commenced.
¶ 10 (c) Not applicable.
¶ 11 Additional update: We plan to commence in 2026 a flyover at the Kurunegala railway crossing near Munaththettugala beyond Kurunegala Town. The funding issues at the Getambe flyover have been resolved and construction is proceeding. Works at the Kohuwala flyover, about 98% complete, will be concluded.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 21 August 2025 ·No. 1757391500023637 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 21 August 2025. No. 1757391500023637. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/22589