On February 5, 2021, the Elkhele diversion tunnel project undertaken by China State Construction Engineering Corporation commenced in Anuradhapura, the capital of Sri Lanka's North Central Province. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

The President stated that the Elkhele diversion tunnel project will improve the irrigation system of Sri Lanka's inland province, North Central Province, and improve the local water resources utilization capacity.

Wang Zhouya, general manager of China State Construction International South Asia, said that after completion, the Elkhele diversion tunnel will become the longest tunnel in Sri Lanka, which will help further meet the needs of agricultural irrigation and domestic water along the route, and promote regional economic development and improvement of people's livelihood.

China's construction projects and project investment are carried out simultaneously, with infrastructure footprints covering dozens of countries and regions in North America, Central America, Hong Kong and Macau, Southeast Asia, North Africa, Central and West Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Editor/Tian Zengpeng