Central Expressway construction will be completed in three years: Kiriella

Leader of the House, Minister of Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella has assured that the Central Expressway construction will be completed within three years.

He gave this assurance after an observation tour to inspect the progress on the first phase of the Central Expressway from Kadawatha to Meerigama on Saturday (2).

Among the projects begun by the present Government, the construction of the Central Expressway commenced from the Meerigama Divisional Secretariat Division of Ganegoda. The financial provisions are being contributed by China’s EXIM Bank while the Central Expressway has been proposed to be constructed from Kadawatha to Dambulla which will connect the roads from Pothuhara to Galagedara as well. 

Construction of the Central Expressway has been broken down into four quarters by taking into note in regard to the planning of the construction of the Central Expressway, methods of gaining financial provisions and management

1) First quarter from Kadawatha to Meerigama (Distance – 37.09km)

2) Second quarter from Meerigama to Kurunegala (Distance – 39.70km), the access road (9.7km) running up to Ambepussa is included

3) Third quarter from Kurunegala, Pothuhara to Galagedara (Distance – 32.50km)

4) Fourth quarter from Kurunegala to Dambulla (Distance – 60.30km)

The total land expected for the construction is 780 acres. The land plots have been categorized as residential lands (21%), business lands (2%), agricultural lands (73%) and alleys (4%). 2175 property lands are expected to be acquired for the expressway. These have been categorised as urban property (144), semi urban property (1623) and rural property (408). 

Upon inspecting the Meerigma Ganegoda area of the Central Expressway the Minister stated: “We have commenced the construction of the Colombo-Kandy Expressway and the construction company has promised us that the expressway will be complete within three years. It took one whole year for the agreements to be signed and allocate finances in regard to the Southern Expressway because that is how the Chinese work. But for the Colombo-Kandy Expressway, the construction company has promised us that they will use their own finances. Many think that constructing a road means only filling sand everywhere, but over the past year we have accomplished many deeds. Acquisition of lands, surveying, checking of soil quality, paying compensations and many more activates are underway. This expressway which is being provisioned by China’s EXIM Bank will open up to all roads across the country.”

Commenting on the current political situation of the country the Minister stated that the present Government received a country with a destroyed economy and that even the country’s one year revenue is insufficient to pay the loans and interests taken by the previous regime.

“The previous regime kept taking loans without any limit and therefore as a result we are facing the current crisis. We are in the process of creating a method to reduce the loans taken. The President and Prime Minister are in discussion with foreign nations as well. Over the past five years the country’s export dropped by 20%.” 

Road Development Authority Chairman Nihal Sooriyaarachchi and Road Development Authority Director General Pushpa Gunarathna attended this observation tour.