Sri Lanka, Sept. 7 -- Disruptions to bitumen imports from the Gulf region due to the conflict involving Iran could stall ongoing road development projects in Sri Lanka.

The local construction sector warned of this potential impact.

Speaking to a weekend English newspaper, Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI) Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer Eng. Col. (Rtd) Nissanka N. Wijeratne pointed out that a significant portion of capital expenditure allocated by the 2026 budget was set aside for road projects.

However, due to difficulties in procuring bitumen amidst the prevailing Gulf crisis, the already troubled local construction sector could face severe impacts once again, he emphasised.

Bitumen forms the main raw ma...