Colombo – Katunayake Expressway is Sri Lanka's second E
Class highway. The 25.8km long (16.0 miles) highway will link the Sri Lankan
capital Colombo with Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake. The construction on the highway began in
October 2009 and the Expressway is scheduled to open officially by President
Mahinda Rajapaksa on 27th October 2013.
The most important benefit of the Project is to
facilitate high speed passenger and freight movement which will lead to permit
rapid industrial expansion in the area, boost tourism industry, enhance
employment opportunities, reduce traffic on Colombo-Pattalam road (A003),
encourage outward migration of people living under congested conditions
in and around Colombo.
The Sri Lankan government grant public an
opportunity to view the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway on 22nd to 24th October
2013. President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday took a walk on the newly constructed Colombo- Katunayake Expressway accompanied by his son, Namal, Officials and members of the public.
The 25.8km long expressway will start at the Kelani bridge and end at the
road approaching the Katunayake International Airport. The expressway has four
lanes, at the starting point at Peliyagoda, it has a small six lane stretch.
The speed limit is set between 80km - 100kmph and is expected to cut down the
travel time between Colombo and Katunayake to approximately 20 minutes.
There are five interchanges in the expressway. Two of
them are at New Kelani Bridge and Peliyagoda at the Colombo end while another
is at Katunayake. There are two other interchanges, at Kerawalapitiya and
Ja-Ela.
The Ministry of Highways announced toll fees for vehicles
using the new Colombo-Katunayake expressway. Accordingly, cars, jeeps and small
vans using the expressway from Peliyagoda to Katunayake will be charged Rs.300,
while lorries and buses will be charged Rs.600. A fare of Rs.200 will be
charged from vehicles traveling from Ja-Ela to Peliyagoda or Katunayake.
