Japan funds Lanka's longest tunnel

The Government of Japan provided 3,078 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs. 3.1 billion) towards the construction of the Gampola-Nuwara Eliya, Gampola-Nawalapitiya roads and the Ramboda Tunnel under its Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan scheme.

The construction work has been completed last year and the Ramboda Tunnel was officially opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday.

The project named Road Network Improvement Project focused on the improvement of the 54 km long Gampola-Nuwara Eliya road and 17 km long Gampola - Nawalapitiya road which are classified as (B13) and (A5) respectively in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.

The Ramboda Tunnel which has been constructed preserving the scenic value of the surrounding environment is an alternative to the Ramboda Pass.

This 225-metre long tunnel is now the longest one in Sri Lanka.

The rehabilitation of these roads will facilitate easy access and faster mobility of neighbourhood people to working places, schools and hospitals in the central areas of the country.

This new road network will contribute to improve commercial activities and social mobility thereby upgrading the living standards and economic development in the region.

This project was funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and implemented in collaboration with the Road Development Authority (RDA) of Sri Lanka.