First phase of Southern Expressway opens on Nov 27

Sandasen Marasinghe and Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Expressway from Colombo to Galle, the first phase of the historic Southern Expressway which is constructed in a bid to make the Sri Lanka ‘Wonder of Asia’ will be opened under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the public on November 27, said Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala. He made this observation at a press conference held at the Information Department auditorium yesterday.

The deputy minister further stated that with this historic construction of the expressway, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, it would be able to travel between Colombo and Galle, a distance of 126.5 km within 70 minutes. He also stated that next phase of the Southern Expressway from Galle to Matara, from Kottawa to Kaduwewela in the Outer Circular Way and Colombo to Katunayake will be completed by 2013.

He added that it is also planned to extend the Expressway up to Hambantota and from Colombo to Jaffna.

Kothalawala further stated that a special bus service would commence on this expressway in four or five months.

The bus will have to be of the required standard, such as seat belts for each seat and sliding doors to guarantee the safety of the commuters.

Ports and Highways Ministry Secretary Sujatha Cooray stated that the construction was completed at a cost of Rs 77 billion with funds donated by the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary W B Ganegala, Road Development Authority Director General Ranjith Premasiri, DIG Asoka Wijethilake and President’s Coordinating Secretary (Arts and Cultural Affairs) Saman Dissanayake were also present on the occasion.