Govt. allocates Rs. 144 billion for road development in 2012

Continuing its commitment government has allocated the highest ever funding of Rs. 144 billion in 2012 to upgrade the road network and build highways, an official said here on Thursday.

Road Development Authority (RDA) Chairman R. Pemasiri outlined the ambitious plans to the media, which include completion of two highways and the start of two more with Rs. 40 billion in funding from the Sri Lankan government.

An additional Rs. 104 billion has been allocated to upgrade internal roads, in the largest road infrastructure budget since the end of the country’s three decade conflict in 2009.   

The expansion of the Colombo-Katunayake expressway will be done next year, Pemasiri assured recalling that 85% of the 292 million US dollar loan is being funded by the Chinese government.

The project is being implemented by the Metallurgical China Group Corporation.

Further expansion of Sri Lanka’s southern highway, which was opened last weekend, by 30km is also funded by the Chinese Exim Bank through a loan of 190 million US dollars and built by the China National Technical Import and Export Corporation.

Other than these two highways the government is also planning to start the last phase of the southern highway and an expressway connecting capital Colombo to the hill city Kandy. (UJ)