Govt. to accelerate Central Expressway

Monday, 13 July 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

China, ADB, Japan to fund initial phases

The Government has approved preliminary work on the vital Central Expressway that will further enhance road infrastructure and be a fillip to socioeconomic development.

It has been proposed to implement the construction of the Colombo-Kandy Central Expressway by dividing its full length into four parts as per the recommendations of the Cabinet Subcommittee on Economic Affairs.

The first part will be from Kadawatha to Meerigama, with loan assistance from EXIM Bank, China; the second part will be from Meerigama to Kurunegala (with the Ambepussa link), with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank and the third part will be from Pothuhera to Kandy, with loan assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The fourth part from Kurunegala to Dambulla will be implemented by local contractors using funds collected through a local bond issue

Based on a proposal presented by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Cabinet last week approved the appointment of procurement committees, negotiation committees and loan negotiations based on recommendations made by the Cabinet Subcommittee on Economic Affairs to accelerate the commencement of this project.