- Rapid repairs underway
The RDA added that restoration work was being carried out at maximum speed to quickly reestablish connectivity across affected regions and ensure the safe movement of people and goods.
RDA Director General Wimal Kandambi said a total of 256 national roads had been damaged in the disaster.
“Our first priority is to rapidly reestablish road connectivity. We want every damaged road to be at least passable for public travel within the next 30 days,” he said.
He also confirmed that 40 bridges had been damaged to varying degrees and that temporary structures were enabling early access in several locations.
“We have restored seven bridges using temporary solutions. Work is underway on 12 more, and once these are completed, access will be restored to 19 bridges in the coming days,” he said.
Decisions on temporary restorations for the remaining bridges are to be finalised soon.
Kandambi said the initial estimate for damage to RDA-managed infrastructure was about $ 650 million, with the Central Province experiencing the worst impact, followed by the Uva, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Northern, and Eastern Provinces.
RDA Chairman T. Paskaran, speaking to The Sunday Morning yesterday (6), confirmed that about 250 kilometres of road and around 40 bridges had suffered damage. “A couple of bridges have been completely washed off, and about 12 to 13 bridges will need to be rebuilt from scratch,” he said.
While Kandambi gave an initial cost estimate, Paskaran said a complete financial assessment would take time. “You cannot calculate such a figure in such a short time,” he said.
Paskaran noted that the RDA had already restored connectivity to most areas. “Almost all cities are connected now. At the peak of the damage, more than 200 road locations were impassable. As of yesterday, that number had decreased to 45 specific locations, and we are actively clearing these,” he said.
Full reconstruction, however, will take longer. “To restore a road to a perfect and fully load-bearing condition takes some time. Our immediate priority is to make them passable,” he explained.
The distribution of damaged bridges spans several regions. “They are in many places, from Jaffna to Ampara. Except for the Southern Province, other regions have experienced significant damage,” Paskaran said.
He added that Government support for the recovery efforts had been consistent. “We have had meetings with the heads of Government and our Minister and our teams are working tirelessly on the ground,” he said.
Alongside the damage to the road network, the railway system has also suffered major disruption, according to the Rapid Needs Assessment report. Several key lines experienced track flooding, embankment failures, and earth slips, leading to the suspension of services and a reduction of daily train operations from 200 to 74.
Four of the country’s nine main railway lines have been interrupted, and emergency clearance is underway. While some services and primary routes are gradually reopening, the report notes that full restoration of safe and reliable connectivity will require extensive short-term repairs and longer term reconstruction, especially in the most heavily damaged corridors.
Attempts to contact Sri Lanka Railways General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya for updated information were unsuccessful, as he did not answer telephone calls.
Kandambi said the RDA was implementing a phased recovery plan to restore transport access as quickly as possible. The authority aims to reopen all damaged roads for public travel within one month, complete full road reconstruction within three months, finish permanent repairs to all damaged bridges within 15 months, and install slope protection in high-risk hilly areas within 18 months.
“Our responsibility is not only to rebuild but to rebuild stronger,” Kandambi said. “We are moving with urgency so that affected communities regain normal access and so that the national road network is more resilient to future disasters.”