The groundbreaking ceremony of the 28 km-long diversion tunnel of the Elahera Canal in Sri Lanka built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) was held at the construction site in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, senior officials from Sri Lankan government and principal officials of CSECE South Asia Branch and the project attended the ceremony.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa inaugurated the foundation stone of the 28 km-long tunnel, and announced the official start of the project. He then operated an excavator to lay a foundation for the project, marking the official start of the diversion tunnel project in Sri Lanka.

This project is an important part of Sri Lanka's "South-to-North Water Diversion" Project. After completion, it will play a positive role in solving the uneven distribution of water resources in Sri Lanka and help in preventing floods and droughts. It will also meet the needs of agricultural irrigation and water needs along the route, and help the economic development and improvement of people's livelihood in central Sri Lanka.

CSCEC has been deeply involved in the Sri Lanka's development to boost local economic and social development and promote community employment.