Minister Bimal Rathnayake signals strong infrastructure push
The inaugural South Asian Bitumen Conference (SABIT 2025) conference sessions took place on 14 November 2025 at the Cinnamon Life, Colombo, following a pre-conference ice braker reception on 13 November.
A highlight of the conference themed, “Bridging Trade, Infrastructure & Supply Chains Across South Asia & Beyond” was the Ministerial Address by Roads, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake on the “Development of Sri Lanka’s Roads and Highways Infrastructure.”
The Minister addressing attendees from 15 countries, highlighted the transformation of bitumen and asphalt from just a raw material to strategic assets for regional connectivity, economic resilience and climate adaptation. Underscoring the inclusion of Performance Grade and Polymer Modified Bitumen in the drive towards sustainability, the key takeaways of his speech were to focus on “Durability, Sustainability, Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration.”
Organised by Conference Connection (CC) with Helanka Vacations by MendisOne, the event brought together policymakers, refiners, traders, and road industry professionals from across South Asia, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
Coinciding with Sri Lanka’s 2026 national budget, which allocates Rs. 342 billion to road and infrastructure projects, SABIT 2025 delegates delved into how this investment will boost bitumen demand, blending capacity, and technology adoption across the region.
Other keynote speakers included; Road Development Authority T. Paskaran, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage, John Keells Holdings Zafir Hashim, and Ceylon Institute of Builders Dr. Rohan Karunaratne.
Endorsed by the FCCISL, CIOB, CASA, SLPBC, YoungShip Sri Lanka, and SLANA, and supported by the Sri Lanka High Commission, Singapore, SABIT 2025 featured sessions on market dynamics, logistics, technology, and sustainability.
Media partners include World Petroleum & Bitumen Journal, Highways Today, FiiNews, and WorldOils.