📈 Colombo LRT Update: Discussions with JICA Ongoing, Final Agreement Pending
Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath has confirmed that the Colombo Light Rail Transit (LRT) project has not yet received final clearance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
• Current Status: Discussions are active, but no formal agreement has been reached. JICA is currently prioritizing the evaluation of progress on other recently resumed projects.
• JICA’s Stance: The agency indicated that any decision on the LRT will be considered only after assessing the outcomes of existing infrastructure commitments.
• Infrastructure Focus: While the LRT remains in the proposal stage, the government confirmed that work on multimodal transport hubs is currently underway to improve urban mobility.
• Strategic Context: The government presented its LRT proposals during high-level talks last year. The project is seen as a key component for urban development and easing congestion in the Western Province, though it remains subject to JICA’s project evaluation cycle.