Sri Lanka has sought China's assistance to construct part of its Central Expressway from Kadawatha in suburban Colombo to Kossinna in Central Province, a cabinet official said on Thursday.

Cabinet spokesperson Dr. Rajitha Senratana said that following a proposal made by Minister of Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella to examine the possibility of obtaining loan facilities from the EXIM Bank of China was approved by the cabinet.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that Sri Lanka will be turned into the economic center in South Asia and the inauguration of construction work on the Central Expressway will be the first step of the new government's program to build a new country in 60 months.

(Xinhua)