Matara-Colombo Expressway for public use soon

President calls for speedy completion

The Matara-Colombo Expressway is nearing completion and one section of it, from Makumbura to Pinnaduwa, will be opened to the public by June this year.

The entire project is 126 kilometres long and stretches from Makumbura in Kottawa to Godagama in the Southern Province.

The project funded by Asian Development Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation will have 11 entry and exit ramps. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs.85 billion.

Nearly 30 percent of the Katunayake-Colombo expressway is also complete and it is possible to complete the entire expressway by the end of 2012, the Highway Ministry officials said at a meeting presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday.

President Rajapaksa said the government had made the biggest allocation of Rs. 102 billion to the Highways Ministry in the past with the intention of providing an efficient and systematic road network and thereby enhancing the quality of life. The President added the maintenance of a proper road network is most essential to carry out the development programme in an efficient manner to deliver the fruits of development to the people.

The meeting focused on the activities of the ministry during the past six years and its future plans.

Reporting on the progress of various highway projects currently undertaken, the Ministry officials told the President that about 855 kilometres of roads had been developed under the “Maga Neguma” project last year surpassing the expected target.

The President instructed the officials to expedite work on the roads near the three Cricket World Cup venues to cater to the large number of local and foreign fans expected for the event.