Central Expressway's First 37km Now Targets April 2028 — Money Well Spent?

The Kadawatha–Mirigama stretch of the Central Expressway, 37km and the first phase of the full route, is now targeted to open to the public by April 2028, the Transport Minister says. Work restarted in September 2025 after the economic crisis froze it, and the 2026 Budget set aside Rs 66.15 billion for the project, with physical progress past 53% as of August. Supporters say Sri Lanka needs more expressways to cut travel time and vehicle wear on the Kandy and Kurunegala roads, and that delays from the crisis weren't the project's fault. Critics ask why billions keep going into new tarmac while existing A- and B-roads stay potholed, buses stay old, and the expressway network mostly helps people who already own cars. Would this route change your commute or where you'd consider buying a home or starting a business? Is Sri Lanka's road money going to the right places, or should it go to buses and rail first? අලුත් මාර්ගයක් හොඳයි, ඒත් සල්ली ඒකටම දාන එක හරිද?