Chinese officials to arrive in Sri Lanka to approve plans for Southern coastal railway extension

Chinese officials will arrive in Sri Lanka within two weeks to approve the plans for the Southern railway extension from Matara to Kataragama, Matara district government officials have informed President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday.

At the Matara District Development Review Meeting held at the District Secretariat yesterday, the officials have told the President that the problems delaying the signing of the agreement regarding the credit facility provided by China to develop the extension have been solved.

Sri Lanka is to obtain a US$ 278.2 million loan from Exim Bank of China to finance the construction of a new extension of the Southern coastal railway line from Matara to Kataragama.

The loan will be used to construct 26.75 kilometers of track, four railway stations, bridges including one over Nilwala River, level crossings and underpasses from Matara to Beliatta at the initial stage.

In the next two phases the track will be extended from Beliatta to Hambantota and Hambantota to Kataragama.

Meanwhile, the expansion of the 35 kilometer segment of Southern Highway from Galle to Matara, which is currently underway, is expected to be completed by April 2013, the Ports and Highways Ministry Secretary R.W.R. Premasiri has told the President.

The President has commented that the country has made impressive progress in the road development during the last few years and predicted further development in the sector.

There are plans to extend the Southern Highway another 75 kilometers up to Hambantota connecting the Mattala International Airport which is under construction now.

Sri Lanka's first ever toll expressway, the 95-km four-lane Southern Highway from Kottawa in Colombo district to Pinnaduwa in Galle was opened by the President on November 27, 2011.

Earlier, the President declared open a new building for the District Secretariat which would help to expand its existing facilities. The building has been built at a cost of Rs.140 million.

Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Rajitha Senaratne, Dullas Alahapperuma, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, and Jagath Pushpa Kumara, Matara district parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya, Governor of Southern Province Kumari Balasuriya, and Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal also participated in the meeting.

(Photos by Chandana Perera)