China Grants $278mn Loan for Matara Kataragama Railway Extension Project

05th March 2012, www.island.lk

The Chinese government has approved a loan of US$ 278.2 million through its Export–Import (Exim) Bank on concessional terms to finance the construction of Matara – Beliatta Section (Phase I) of Matara - Kataragama Railway Extension Project, the ministry of Finance and Planning announced yesterday.

"The Matara – Beliatta Section consists of construction of 26.75 km long single line broad gauge rail track including construction of structures such as culverts, bridges over rivers, viaducts those required over the Nilwala river flood plain, level crossings, underpass boxes, road diversion, 4 numbers of railway stations and functional requirements including construction of railway quarters for staff, earth embankments, cut embankments and ground treatment etc," the Treasury said in statement.

"This is the first Phase of the Matara - Kataragama Railway Extension Project. It is expected to construct the railway line from Beliatta to Hambantota and Hambantota to Kataragama under Phase II and Phase III respectively.

"The construction of the new railway will provide an efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport to cater increasing demand for transport due to developments in Southern region with the operation of new port and airport at Hambantota.".

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Sri Lanka Southern Expressway Nears Completion. Links Colombo to Matara

06th January 2011, www.lankabusinessonline.com

An expressway linking the Sri Lankan capital Colombo to the south is nearing completion with one section expected to be open to the public by June this year, a statement said.

Work on roads near three cricket World Cup venues is also being expedited to cater to the large numbers of local and foreign fans expected for the event, the statement from the President's media unit.

It said 80 percent of work on the Colombo - Matara expressway is over.

The expressway is 126 kilometres long and stretches from Makumbura in Kottawa, a southern suburb of Colombo, to Godagama in the southern province.

The first phase of the road, from Makumbura to Pinnaduwa, near the southern town of Galle, is expected to be open to the public by June this year, the statement quoted RDA officials as telling President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a meeting.

The expressway will have 11 entry and exit ramps.

The expressway at Makumbura connects to a ring road called Outer Circular Road being built around Colombo to divert traffic and ease congestion in the capital.

The statement also said 30 percent of work on another expressway connecting Colombo with the international airport in Katunayake to the north has been completed.

The Katunayake expressway is expected to be ready by the end of 2012.

Rajapaksa has asked for work to be speeed up on roads being built or repaired near three cricket World Cup venues, the statement said. Sri

Lanka will host 12 matches in Colombo, Kandy in the central hills and southern Hambantota. India and Bangladesh are the other hosts of the World Cup, which starts on February 19.

Related Info:
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Sri Lanka Plans Colombo Kandy Expressway to Cut Travel Time to an Hour