Southern Highway first section:

Work nearing completion

Irangika RANGE

Work on the first section of the Southern Highway from Kottawa to Galle is nearing completion and is expected to be opened by July end.

“About 99 percent of construction has already been completed,” Deputy Highways Minister Nirmala Kothalawala told the Daily News.

The 126 km highway constructed at a cost of around US$ 600 million will link Colombo with the Southern Province. The project will reduce travel time and promote easier movement to and from the southern areas to Colombo.

This will also help increase economic activity. The new highway will also reduce travel time from four hours to one and a half hours, thus boosting economic activity and the regeneration of the south,” the Deputy Minister said.The Southern highway is the first access controlled expressway with 11 interchanges. The interchanges will be at Makumbura, Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Lewwanduwa, Kurundugahahetekma, Nayapamula (Baddegama), Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Kokmaduwa and Godagama.

The project consists of 4 sections. The Kottawa to Dodangoda section (34 Km) is funded by the JBIC/JICA.

The second section from Dodangoda to Kurundugahahetekma (32Km) is also funded by the JBIC/JICA.

The third section from Kurundugahahetekma to Pinnaduwa (30 km) is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The forth section from Pinnaduwa to Matara (30km)which is being constructed with EXIM Bank of China funds. The government is planning to introduce a final stage to the project by extending this highway up to Hambantota to connect the new harbour and the Mattala airport.