Press Releases

Commencement of Construction of Moragahakanda Bridge in Matale

September 20, 2026

High Commission of India
Colombo

PRESS RELEASE

Commencement of Construction of Moragahakanda Bridge in Matale

H.E. Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, jointly laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Moragahakanda Bridge in Matale today.

2. The ceremony was also attended by Members of Parliament; senior officials of the Road Development Authority; and other dignitaries.
3. The Moragahakanda Bridge is the first of 13 permanent bridges to be constructed across different provinces of Sri Lanka under grant assistance from the Government of India. The project forms part of India’s wider USD 450 million reconstruction and rehabilitation package announced following Cyclone Ditwah, aimed at restoring critical infrastructure in affected areas.
4. The Moragahakanda Bridge has been accorded priority following a special request from the Government of Sri Lanka, given its importance in restoring connectivity in the region. The new bridge, over 175 metres in length, will provide an important link between the Matale and Polonnaruwa districts and facilitate the movement of local communities.
5. The bridge will be constructed by IRCON International Limited, an Indian Public Sector Undertaking with a longstanding presence in Sri Lanka.
6. Following commencement of work at Moragahakanda, construction at the remaining 12 permanent bridge locations is expected to commence over the coming weeks.
7. India has already constructed 11 Bailey bridges at 10 locations across Sri Lanka to provide immediate restoration of transport links disrupted by Cyclone Ditwah. The commencement of the permanent bridge programme marks the transition from emergency restoration to the construction of permanent and resilient infrastructure.
8. In addition to the bridge projects, several railway-related connectivity projects are also expected to commence soon under the INR-denominated USD 250 million long-term Line of Credit. These include a new railway bridge at Peradeniya and rehabilitation of railway lines, along with associated signalling systems.
9. The commencement of the Moragahakanda Bridge reflects India’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in building resilient infrastructure and strengthening connectivity. These initiatives are part of India’s longstanding, people-centric development partnership with Sri Lanka, aimed at delivering tangible benefits to communities across the island.