Ten years on - Central Expressway not in sight

14 March 2025 01:31 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 9 Bookmark

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*Cost for phase 1 increases from Rs.158 billion to Rs. 350 billion

*Govt. plans to complete it during its term

Colombo, March 14 (Daily Mirror) - The estimated cost for the construction of phase 1 of the Central Expressway (Kadawata - Meerigama stretch) has more than doubled since 2015 when the project agreement was originally signed, a deputy minister said yesterday.

The first agreement for the project was signed in 2015 and the second in 2016, but successive governments failed to realize it during the last ten years.

Deputy Minister of Transport Dr. Prasanna Gunasena told Daily Mirror that the cost had increased from Rs.158 billion in the original estimate to Rs.350 billion due to reasons such as compensation being demanded by the construction firm over the delay and the depreciation of the local currency against the US dollar.

The 36-kilometre stretch of phase one is to be implemented with a loan from EXIM Bank of China.

The Deputy Minister said some construction undertaken at the initial stage had collapsed after the project came to a standstill.

"To restore them, the government has allocated Rs. 7 billion," he said.

The government has now prioritized the completion of the Central Expressway during its term. The work on the Pothuhera- Rambukkana stretch is now in progress. Land acquisition for the next stage up to Galagedara in Kandy has been completed, according to him.

The Central Expressway has four components, including the Kurunegala- Dambulla stretch.

"We will look at the construction of any other expressway only upon completion of the Central Expressway. Further delay means further cost. If we start work on phase 1 now, it will take three years to complete," he said.

Comments - 9

lion Friday, 14 March 2025 05:10 AM

Please complete the 1 phase as soon as possible.

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Rasi Friday, 14 March 2025 05:47 AM

Sirisena-Ranil government was mainly responsible for the project delay, even though this was an election thing put into light by Mahinda before the 2015 presidential election. The 2015-19 government has not done anything besides the political grudge between the two leaders and missed putting Sri Lanka on the correct path after 10 years of rogue Rajapaksha regime. It also paved the way for another Rajapaksha to come to power again.

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Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 14 March 2025 05:27 PM

So, Rajapakshas signed the contract for 150 million and but the others Ranil and Sira made it more and now the all saints NPP says 358 million. So Rajapakshas are accused as corrupt by you? Yes they made money from these contracts but the difference between 150 and 358 , who is responsible for it? Those who responsible for the increased cost are the real culprits. Although Rajapakshas have been accused left and right for corruption, so far not a single important case has been proven in court. We are still waiting for return of USD 18 billion taken to Uganda and more from other places. Ranjan Ramanayake also mentioned about Dubai Marriot Hotel being owned by Rajapakshas, so that will give about USD 1 billion.

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Central Expressway nightmare Friday, 14 March 2025 07:50 AM

The Central Expressway comes to sight only when there is a general election round the corner. There was a flurry of activity just before the last elections where workers and engineers were pretending to be very busy to have it ready overnight but failed badly. Hope out of sight doesn't mean out of mind altogether.

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Russel Harmmer Friday, 14 March 2025 08:55 AM

Hope AKD will implement this program Colombo-Kandy expressway as early as possible, so that it will be a profitable project for the government.

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jaya Friday, 14 March 2025 08:57 AM

express way projects where treasure trove for previous regimes. sad our money looted this way.

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Jude Friday, 14 March 2025 09:55 AM

According to a professor at katubadda University who's expert and consultant to infrastructure development including SL expressways, said in his research some of the expressways cost $5 million per km and some of the expressways cost $55 million per km. I wonder the latter paved in Gold.

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Riyazi Saturday, 15 March 2025 07:16 AM

Pls plan a common minimum program and execute....think about northern and other plans after 2030...finish the central highway as soon as possible....completing central highway might pay the way for more development anuradhapura and polonnaruwa dambulla sigiriya nuwaraeliya and Eastern Region....

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Siri Weerasinghe Wednesday, 23 July 2025 06:56 PM

This part of the soft "Silk Road" is going to make some peoples' pockets bulge because old traditions die hard. Full steam ahead, please!

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