COLOMBO (News 1st): Minister of Highways and Chief Government Whip, Johnston Fernando on Sunday (Nov. 22) laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Kapudoowa Interchange of the Southern Expressway Extension Project, the Department of Government Information said.

This was in line with the inaugural ceremony of the programme to develop 160 roads in all 160 seats of the country, initiated to commemorate the 1st anniversary of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in office.

A sum of Rs. 387.5 million has been allocated for the construction of the Kapooduwa Interchange as a part of the Southern Expressway Extension Project, and it is planned to be completed in six-months, the Department of Government Information noted.

Motorists travelling along the Southern Expressway from Colombo and Katunayake can exit through the Kapooduwa Interchange and travel with ease to Kamburupitiya and Matara, which located about 11 km and 06 km away from the interchange, respectively.

Furthermore, the inaugural ceremony of the programme to plant two million saplings along roads based on a concept of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was also held today at the Kapudoowa Interchange.

Several dignitaries including Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Power – Dullas Alahapperuma, State Ministers – Nimal Lansa and Kanchana Wijesekera were present at the event.

• Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s Spaceflight and visit to Ceylon
• Government signs USD 500 Mn. loan agreement with China
• “The Incident will have no bearing on the next Mrs World Competition” – Mrs World Inc
• ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ and others released from Arms Trafficking Case
• Special programme for New Year: Excise Dept