Road To Greater Opportunities in Rural Sri Lanka

By Asian Development Bank

February 28^th, 2023

Sri Lanka’s population of over 22 million is mostly rural-based and supports the agricultural production of tea, rice, vegetables, fruits, and other cash crops. In total, agriculture contributes about 8% of the country’s gross domestic product.

Tea is Sri Lanka’s top agricultural export.

Fisheries are a significant part of Sri Lanka’s rural economy.

This makes the connectivity of rural communities—where more than 80% of Sri Lanka’s population live— essential to the country’s progress.

Transplanting of paddy saplings is a labor-intensive process in rice cultivation.

With tea being the country's main agricultural export, the tea industry provides direct and indirect employment to nearly 1 million people.

Upgrading rural roads is critical to connecting farmers to markets.

ENHANCED ACCESS TO SOCIOECONOMIC CENTERS

Sri Lanka is known worldwide as a producer of high-quality tea. Tea is mostly sourced from remote rural estates. Transporting precious tea leaves efficiently from these estates to distributors and wholesalers is integral and essential to a successful business process.

Tea is Sri Lanka’s most popular beverage.

“Before it was carpeted and improved, the road was just terrible. Laden with potholes, it was impossible to have a smooth ride in a vehicle. The bus, which travels from this estate to Deniyaya town, used to take about 45 minutes because of the road condition, but now it is a mere 17- 20 minute ride” - W. K. P. Wijewickrama

Standing under the shade of a tree on the roadside, Wijewickrama waits for a lorry to collect the tea leaf gathered from the estate where he works.

iROAD FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In 2014, ADB supported an initiative to improve the connectivity of rural communities to socioeconomic and commercial centers through the $800 million Integrated Road Investment Program (iRoad). In 2017, the initiative was further expanded through a Second Integrated Road Investment Program (iRoad2) with $900 million financing to rehabilitate and improve roads in other provinces.

Road To Greater Opportunities in Rural Sri Lanka

IMPROVED TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Under the two iRoad programs, around 5,600 km of rural roads were rehabilitated and 740 km of national roads built in Sri Lanka’s nine provinces. The roads were built to withstand extreme weather conditions, and their design also took into consideration the needs of women, children, and vulnerable people.

For public transport driver M. Shiva, improved roads have not only made his trips faster and more comfortable, but also reduced his expenses for vehicle repairs and maintenance.

“I hope the road will also be properly maintained to ensure our and passengers’ safety and convenience.” - M. Shiva, Bus driver along the Deniyaya town and Beverly Estate

BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS

The improved road network led to increased agriculture productivity and better access to health and education. In addition, the project provided employment opportunities to rural communities.

Recognizing the benefits it brought to rural communities, the International Road Federation (IRF) awarded the Integrated Road Investment Program (iRoad) with the ‘2020 global road achievement award for best program management’.

The rehabilitation and construction of rural roads have improved the integration and connectivity of rural communities with regional economic centers, bringing inclusive growth to a part of the population that once was at the margins of the country’s economic cycle.

Better roads mean that goods can now be brought to the market more efficiently.

Smoother commute jouneys are now possible on the once bumpy roads.

Upgraded estate roads have brought bus services to residents.

Paved roads have opened greater opportunities for the people of rural Sri Lanka.

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