Foundation stone laid for elevated expressway to the Colombo Port City

Colombo(News 1st) - UNP Leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Chairman Minister Kabir Hashim attended an event in Colombo this morning (September 10). Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Chief Guest to launch the construction of an elevated expressway connecting the Colombo Port City To Colombo Fort. Minister Kabir Hashim was a little late to the event, and the Prime Minister was seen awaiting the Minister's arrival. The construction is taking place under the ''Hadawath Ya Kerena Ran Mawath'' project. This elevated expressway constructed using a loan facilitated by the Asian Development Bank is estimated to cost US$ 300 million. Speaking at the event Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the Colombo - Kandy Expressway and the Outer-Circular Expressway were proposed back in 2003 noting that sections were constructed back then and after the current government came into power, they decided to expedite construction of this new road system. "The people of this country will reap the benefits of this in another two to three years. At the same time, programs are in place for the development of the port", he continued. The journey from Galle Face Green to Peliyagoda will only take 04 minutes after the completion of this new expressway section. Though the foundation stone for the project was laid today it has been months since construction began. Construction of this road that will link the new Kelani Bridge and the Katunayake Expressway is almost complete.