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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.

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