Skip to main content

Sri Lanka road proposal

A new tolled highway linking Colombo with Kandy could be built with financial support from Malaysia.
March 1, 2012 Read time: 1 min
A new tolled highway linking Colombo with Kandy could be built with financial support from Malaysia. The Malaysian Government is considering its options with regard to the US$1 billion plan for the Colombo-Kandy Toll Expressway. A proposal to build the 115km highway link that was originally submitted in 2003 will be resubmitted to the Government of Sri Lanka. The proposed highway link was dropped later in 2003 following feasibility studies highlighting various issues relating to the highway. However the project may now be revived with Malaysian contractors carrying out the work and this would reduce the current journey time of three hours to 55 minutes along the route.

Sri Lanka's highway network is now improving after several decades of under-investment and neglect. The new Southern Expressway is expected to open in December 2011, which will improve the connection between capital Colombo and Galle in the south. The plans call for the highway to be extended to Matara and Hambanthota.

Related Content

  • New elevated highway project for Sri Lanka
    October 1, 2018
    Work now looks ready to move ahead for an elevated highway project in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Funding has been secured in the shape of a loan worth US$300 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help carry out the work. In all the work is expected to cost $360 million and involves building a 5.3km section of elevated highway. This new elevated route will be tolled for users when complete and will connect the new bridge spanning the Kelani River, which itself is due for completion in 2020
  • Kuwait Fund loans Sri Lanka US$35m for bridge reconstruction
    December 11, 2014
    Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has awarded a loan worth nearly US$35 million to the Sri Lankan government for reconstructing 25 deteriorated road bridges. The bridges include three in Southern Province, four in Sabaragamuwa Province, nine in Western Province, three in Northern Province, five in North Western Province and a bridge in Eastern Province. The loan comes after the Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping sent out an invitation to bid in October, covering eight bridges along the
  • India mulls feasibility of bridge over Palk Straight to Sri Lanka
    October 27, 2015
    India will carry out a feasibility study on a road link between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu state and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, a federal government minister has said. "It needs the consent of both countries,” said Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan. “The project needs to be discussed at various levels," according to a brief report by India’s Hindu newspaper. Radhakrishnan told the reporters that federal government had begun consultations to carry out a
  • Sri Lanka transport boost
    September 29, 2016
    Major plans to upgrade Sri Lanka’s transportation network are being developed. The plans call for upgrades to roads, rail and port facilities right across the country, in a bid to boost the economy. Assistance in preparing the improvement plans for roads, rail links and port facilities is being provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The focus will be on improving transport links both between and within the country’s major towns and cities. One of the priority projects so far identified is for a new r