The Higher Education and Highways Ministry yesterday sought Parliamentary approval for Rs53,000mn to fund six projects including the extension of the Southern Expressway, construction of the third phase of the Colombo Outer Circular Road and the construction of a new bridge across the Kelani River.
Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella informed Parliament that Rs51.5bn out of the Rs53bn would be raised under a loan scheme from China, Japan and Asian Development Bank, while only Rs2.5bn would be sought from local funds. He said the extension of the Southern Expressway from Godagama to Hambantota by 96km was underway and that 35% of the construction had been completed. He said Rs29,060mn was allocated from the 2017 budget but the allocated funds had already been spent and added that Rs24,000mn in foreign loans apart from local funds were needed for the year 2017. He said the expressway would be opened by 2019. Minister Kiriella said Rs6,000mn more was needed for the construction of the Colombo Outer Circular Road from Kadawatha to Kerawalapitiya for the rest of 2017 as the allocated funds of Rs5,000 million had already been spent. He said additional funds of Rs6,000mn were needed for the year 2017 for the construction of a new bridge across the Kelani River as well. –Courtesy dailymirror.lk

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