China and Sri Lanka have signed an agreement to implement a Chinese-funded project to reconstruct 14 major bridges destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread devastation across the country late last year.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development in Colombo, in the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wei Huaxiang and Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Asiri Karunawardana.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Wei said China had expedited the approval process for the reconstruction project following a request from the Sri Lankan government.

A team of Chinese experts was brought to Sri Lanka to assess the damage and conduct field inspections as part of preparations for the project, he said.

The Ambassador said China would work closely with the Sri Lankan authorities in carrying out the development and management of the project, with particular attention being paid to ensuring long-term and tangible benefits for the people of Sri Lanka.

Expressing appreciation for the Chinese government’s assistance, Ministry Secretary Asiri Karunawardana said the project would help address transportation difficulties caused by the disaster while also contributing to the broader development of Sri Lanka’s transport infrastructure.

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka from late November to early December 2025, caused extensive damage across the country and claimed more than 600 lives.

The disaster is estimated to have caused around US$4.1 billion in economic and infrastructure damage, according to estimates.