Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana yesterday said that the Port Access Elevated Highway Project will have a positive impact on the country’s macroeconomic indicators including Gross National Income, Employment and Balance of Payments.
He said that the Port City will be connected to the Expressway network in the country after the completion of the Port Access Elevated Highway Project.
Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana was speaking at a ceremony to mark the merging of the construction of the Elevated Highway that began from the Colombo Port City and Ingurukade junction yesterday.
“This is a day of historical significance that will change the course of the country’s history. The Port Access Expressway is the longest elevated expressway in Sri Lanka that runs through the Colombo Port, which is the nerve centre of the country’s economy,” he said.
The Minister added that the construction of the project is expected to be vested with the people by October.
“The vehicles coming from Galle Road can enter this road through the Galle Road and travel to any part of Sri Lanka without traffic jams, using the expressway system,” he said.
“This road will become the easiest way to transport containers to bring the exported goods to the port and to distribute the imported goods throughout the country.”
Liu Weimin, Chairman of the Chinese Civil Engineering Company (CCECC) (which is handling the construction of the project), who is on a visit to Sri Lanka also participated in this ceremony. Transport and Highways Ministry Secretary Ranjith Rubasinghe, Project Director K.W. Kandamby were present.
