China Steps In to Rebuild Bridges Destroyed Ditwah
When Cyclone Ditwah tore across Sri Lanka in late 2025, it did more than flood towns and destroy homes. It severed connections, cutting off communities as bridges collapsed under the force of one of the worst natural disasters in the country's recent history. Now, nearly a year later, those broken links are set to be rebuilt. Sri Lanka and China have signed an official agreement to launch a Chinese-funded project aimed at reconstructing 14 major bridges destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah. The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development in Colombo, with Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang and Ministry Secretary Asiri Karunawardena representing the two sides. According to Ambassador Wei, the project was accelerated following a request from the Sri Lankan Government. He noted that China dispatched a team of experts to conduct field inspections and technical assessments before expediting approval for the reconstruction programme. The Ambassador stressed that the project would be implemented in close cooperation with Sri Lanka, with a focus on delivering lasting and meaningful benefits to the Sri Lankan people rather than simply replacing damaged infrastructure. For Sri Lanka, the project represents more than the reconstruction of bridges. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Secretary Asiri Karunawardena said the initiative would help overcome transportation difficulties that emerged in the aftermath of the disaster while also strengthening the country's wider transport infrastructure network. The scale of the challenge remains enormous. Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka between late November and early December 2025, left a trail of devastation across the country, claiming the lives of more than 600 people and causing an estimated US$ 4.1 billion in economic and infrastructure damage.
