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Southern Expressway work begins tomorrow

by Kushani Ratnayake

The first stage of the construction of the Southern Expressway Project will commence with the laying of the foundation stone tomorrow.

The Expressway is 131 kilometres, and is the longest. The Asian Development Bank will grant Rs. 11.5 billion for the construction work from Kurundugahahethapma to Godagama (59.5 km) and up to the Galle port (4.9 km).

The Japanese Government has granted Rs.15 billion for the construction from Kottawa to Kurundugahahethapma (66 km).

"Within three years we hope to complete the Expressway and we would like to expand it up to areas like Hambantota, Kataragama and Moneragala" Minister of Defence and Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation Tilak Marapana said at a press conference yesterday.

"We are pleased to activate the development plans once again and we are confident that this Expressway will benefit people of the Southern region in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and tourism" he said.

The Minster also said that there is a project to resettle people who will be losing their lands due to these developments. The Central Environmental Authority has granted permission to proceed with the project.

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