Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attends a ceremony for the recommencement of construction of the Central Expressway section I from Kadawatha to Mirigama undertaken by Metallurgical Corporation of China Limited (MCC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Tuesday that the resumption of a Chinese-built project in Sri Lanka shows the close communication and cooperation between the two countries and the sound development of bilateral relations.

He thanked China for extending a helping hand during Sri Lanka's economic crisis.

Disanayake made the remarks while attending a ceremony for the recommencement of construction of the Central Expressway section I from Kadawatha to Mirigama undertaken by Metallurgical Corporation of China Limited (MCC).

The president said the project is an important national undertaking for Sri Lanka. He thanked China for supporting the country in improving its economy and people's livelihoods. He added that the project's resumption testifies to and facilitates Sri Lanka's efforts to overcome its economic difficulties and move toward stable development.

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong said the Central Expressway project is crucial for Sri Lanka's recovery and revitalization. It also stands as a new landmark of the friendship between the two peoples, he noted.

Qi expressed the hope and belief that all parties involved will advance construction in a dedicated and practical manner, ensuring the project's timely and high-quality completion so that it can benefit the Sri Lankan people at an early date.

The Central Expressway will eventually connect Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, with the central city of Kandy, and link up with three existing expressways to form an integrated network.

Bimal Rathnayake, Sri Lankan minister of transport, highways, ports and civil aviation, said the completion of the project will significantly improve the efficiency and convenience of the expressway network, benefiting two-thirds of the country's provinces and directly boosting sectors such as tourism, transportation and agricultural product processing.