Kadawatha

Kadawatha is a commuter town in Gampaha District, Western Province, mostly administered by the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha with some parts under the Biyagama Pradeshiya Sabha. It sits on the A1 Colombo–Kandy road, about 16 km north of Colombo Fort, and borders Kiribathgoda to the south and Ragama to the west.

Kadawatha's main asset is its position on the expressway network rather than any single landmark. The Kadawatha Interchange connects the A1 to the Outer Circular Expressway, and it is also the starting point of the Central Expressway toward Kurunegala, which makes the town a natural transport node for traffic heading north and east out of Colombo.

By road, Colombo Fort is around 18 to 20 minutes away in free-flowing traffic and longer at peak times. The Central Expressway's Kadawatha–Mirigama section was reported to be 42% complete in February 2026, with a 2028 target for finishing. There is no railway station in Kadawatha; Ragama, about 6 km away, is the nearest. The Kadawatha Multimodal Transport Centre, which began operating in August 2024, handles express and long-distance buses instead.

Kandy Road through the town has an Arpico supermarket and a Cargills Food City, along with private hospitals such as Rosewood and Kadawatha Hospital; Colombo North Teaching Hospital, a government facility, is a short drive away in Ragama. Schools include Kadawatha Central College and York International School. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara and the University of Kelaniya are both within about 7 km for anyone who wants a temple visit or a campus nearby.

The main project affecting Kadawatha is the Central Expressway's Kadawatha–Mirigama section, under construction and reported at 42% complete in February 2026 with completion targeted for 2028. The Kadawatha Multimodal Transport Centre, opened in August 2024, is already operating and has changed how residents reach long-distance buses. New residential developments in the area are listed further down this page.

Kadawatha tends to suit commuters who want expressway access in more than one direction, toward Colombo, toward Kandy on the A1, or eventually toward Kurunegala once the Central Expressway is finished. It is also a common search area for buyers who want an established town centre with schools and hospitals already in place, rather than a newer, still-developing suburb.