President to open Southern Expressway on Nov 27

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will open the newly built Southern Expressway on November 27. President Rajapaksa will address the public on the same day at a ceremony to be held at Kurundugahahethemma at 11 am, Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala told the Daily News Yesterday.

According to Deputy Minister Kothalawala religious dignitaries, Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors and High Commissioners will participate in the opening ceremony. The public are to be educated on how to use this newly built expressway, through the media, from November 14.

In addition, a leaflet with relevant guidelines and other necessary information is to be distributed among all vehicle owners who use the highway.

The minimum toll fee will be Rs. 100. The toll for the full distance will be Rs. 400 for a car. The return toll will be the same.

The Southern Expressway starts from Makumbura, Kottawa and ends at Pinnaduwa in Galle. The Expressway allows speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. It will significantly cut down the travelling time between Galle and Colombo, the deputy minister said.

The Galle–Matara section of the Southern Expressway, Sri Lanka’s first ever Expressway is now being constructed, the deputy minister added.