Southern Expressway extended up to Mattala, H'tota

The Southern Expressway stretch from Barawakumbuka to Mattala (E-01) and Hambantota (E-06) was declared open today, Southern Expressway Deputy Director R.A.D Kahatapitiya said. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said the event was inaugurated by the Transport Ministry Secretary.

"The other roads can be accessed through the Barawakumbuka, Sooriyawewa, Andarawewa interchanges and Mattala - Hambantota entrance," he said.

"From Barawakumbuka to Mattala via Andarawewa it has a distance of 21.8 kilometres. The stretch between Andawawewa to Hambantota would be 16.6 kilometres," he said.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry said the toll fee for the new stretches will be announced in due course. The Colombo Katunayake Expressway (E-03) will be connected to E-01 via Outer Circular highway (E-02) at Kerawalapitiya interchange today.

After connecting the Katunayake expressway and the Outer Circular Highway, people from Hambantota could travel up to Katunayake through the expressway, Mr Kahatapitiya said.

Also said the electronic toll collection (ETC) at the Kerawalapitiya Interchange had been suspended until further notice. Kadawatha to Kerwalapitiya stretch of outer Circular Highway would be 9.6 kilometres in length. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)