Manila/Colombo: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 800 million loan to fund rural and national road upgrades in six provinces of Sri Lanka.
According to the Lanka Page web site, the grant will significantly improve access of remote communities to markets, services, and jobs.
Under the Integrated Road Investment Program, called "iRoad", Sri Lanka will upgrade about 2,200 kilometers of rural access roads, and rehabilitate and maintain about 400 kilometers of national roads under five projects in the Southern Province, Sabaragamuwa Province and the Kalutara District of Western Province, Central Province, North Central Province and the North Western province.
It will also provide training and support to help national, provincial, and local agencies manage the road network more effectively.
The project is expected to be finished by mid-2024.
Sri Lanka has over 132,000 kilometers of roads.
