E01:Matara-Hambantota stretch ready this year

By Ajith Siriwardana

 
The 96km stretch of the Southern Expressway between Matara and Hambantota will be completely opened in the first quarter of 2020, Road and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

Commencing work at a ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) premises, he said work on the stretch will be expedited.  

“The previous government opened the stretch of the Southern Expressway before completing the constructions. There are a lot of shortcomings in it. We hope to complete the work of the stretch between Matara and Hambantota during the first quarter of this year and open it before Sinhala New year,” he said.  

The Minister said previous government failed to commence work of the Eastern Jetty of the Colombo Port for four and-a-half years and added that the government expected to commence work on the Eastern Jetty very soon.  

project is expected to open before Sinhala New year