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Although Sri Lanka has a dense network of roads, a large part of it remains below par and is unable to support the increasing demand for fast and comfortable travel. Major investment expenditure for the road sector in the past few decades has been on maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing roads and not on the construction of new trunk roads.

The main responsibility for the development and maintenance of the road network of about 100,000 km is vested in the Government institutions. The national highway network consisting of 11,486 km of A and B class roads and 4,480 bridges comes under the direct purview of the Road Development Authority (RDA). Provincial councils maintain about 15,000km of C and D class roads while minor roads are maintained by local authorities and some other public institutions.

As road capacities have not expanded in line with the growth of the vehicle population, congestion on roads has grown rapidly in urban areas, hindering the promotion of foreign investment. Foreign investors questioned about the standard of the country's road network. The poor quality of roads has contributed to an increased incidence of accidents, and substantial economic and social costs.

In order to overcome this problem, the Government took a great stride to build four major expressways at a cost of Rs.54 billion fulfilling a long felt need. These roads aim to provide easy accessibility and facilitate faster mobility and to develop the hinterland through new construction of road networks in order to make it accessible. As a result many industries will embark in the future in Industrial Parks established in rural areas.

Southern Highway

Preliminary work on the proposed Southern highway (Colombo-Matara Highway) was in progress in 2000. The highway has two sections, to be financed separately by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The Nordic fund is financing the management consultancy work for the entire Southern highway project. A resettlement implementation plan for affected parties was under preparation during last year.

The construction of the Southern highway also includes the Southern Transport Development Project (Southern Alternate Highway)- Construction of expressway linking Kottawa (South East of Colombo) to Godagama in Matara via, Bandaragama, Dodangoda, Kurundugaha-Hetekma, Baddegama, Akmeemana and Imaduwa.

Preliminary design work has been completed on the project and design work has commenced. Boundary line marking is in progress. The RDA will be the implementing agency of the Southern Alternative Highway. The project period is between 2000 - 2005. Total investment has been estimated to Rs.21.33 billion (US$ 296.2 million). The ADB will finance Rs.6480 million, OECF Rs.8640 million, Nordic Development Fund- Rs.482.4 million, Swedish International Development Agency - Rs.72 million.

The objective of the Southern highway project is to promote socio-economic development in the South, provide an alternative route to reduce traffic congestion, travel time, vehicle operating costs, accidents and also to develop the hinterland through the improvement of transport facilities.

Under this project a 46 km four lane road from Kottawa to Lewwanduwa will be constructed. Thereafter, another 82 km two lane road from Lewwanduwa to Godagama (JBIC & ADB), 8 Km access road to Panadura (JBIC) and a 4 Km access road to Galle will be constructed.

Colombo - Katunayaka Expressway

Establishing a high speed link road between Colombo and the Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayaka to facilitate passenger and freight movement between the two locations is the major aim of the project.

Accordingly, an expressway from the northern end of the New Kelani Bridge to Katunayaka with interchanges at New Kelani Bridge, Peliyagoda, Ja-Ela and Katunayake will be constructed. The contract was awarded as a design and build arrangement and construction work commenced in 2000. The project period will be 2000 - 2005 and a total investment of the project is Rs.9500 million. Under this project a 24 km dual three-lane expressway will be constructed.

This road will serve traffic to and from the North Western, North Central, and Northern Provinces, reducing traffic congestion along the Colombo - Puttalam road, facilitating rapid industrial expansion in the area, enhancing employment opportunities and encouraging outward migration of people living under congested conditions in and around Colombo.

Outer Circular Highway:

The main objective of the project is to reduce congestion on arterial roads in Colombo and facilitate access to existing and planned growth centres in the city. It will connect the North - South (Southern Alternate Highway - Port/Airport via the Colombo Katunayaka Expressway) and control the urban sprawl.

Under the project the following trunk routes will be connected: Colombo - Galle - Hambantota Road at Panadura, Colombo - Ratnapura - Wellawaya - Batticaloa road in between Kottawa and Homagama; Peliyagoda - Puttalam road at Welisara; and the proposed new Colombo - Katunayaka Expressway and the Southern Highway. The final draft of the feasibility study report has been completed.

The project period extends between 2000 - 2006 and the total investment of the project is Rs.7000 million. The JBIC and GOSL will invest in the project. Under this project 51 Km length of new, four lane partially controlled (limited access) road will be constructed.

Alternate Highway from Colombo to Kandy:

Construction of an alternate highway from Colombo to Kandy to ease the heavy traffic congestion on the existing Colombo- Kandy road is the main purpose of the project. Under this project travel time between Colombo and Kandy will be reduced. The SIDA has started on a pre-feasibility study. The project is to be completed between 2000 - 2004 and total investment will be Rs.10,660 million which will be financed by the SIDA and the Government of Sri Lanka.

Baseline Road Project Phase I & II:

The construction work of Stage I of the Baseline Road improvement and Extension project, funded by JBIC had been completed. This included the construction of a flyover at Dematagoda and a pedestrian underpass at Borella.

The provision of a detour route for through traffic to by-pass the city centre and thus relieve traffic congestion on the road network in Colombo, and strengthen the North - South road link by rehabilitating and upgrading the existing Baseline road is the main purpose of the project.

The project has two phases. Improving and widening the Baseline Road from Kelanitissa roundabout to Kanatta junction is the first phase and improving and widening the road from Kanatta junction to Highlevel road at Kirulapone is the second phase. From Kelanitissa roundabout to the Kanatta junction the work has completed. Land acquisition and site clearing works are in progress for phase II. Tenders have been called for construction work in phase II.

The project period is between 1996 to 2002 and the total investment is estimated to be Rs.4600 million. The JBIC will finance Rs.3154 million and GOSL will share Rs.1446 million.

The Phase I of the project upgraded 4.6 km to a dual three-lane highway with an overhead bridge at Dematagoda and pedestrian subway at Borella. Phase II of the project will upgrade 3.6 km to a dual three lane highway with five traffic lights and safety facilities and the construction of two span bridges over the Kirulapone Canal.

Apart from these major projects, steps were taken to rehabilitate the road network and bridges during the last six years. At the same time measures were taken to improve effective traffic management systems and vehicle parking systems in major cities, improvement of pedestrian ways, a regulatory and legal framework with effective enforcement and awareness programmes, etc.

The Road Development Authority (RDA) continued the implementation of several road projects to upgrade the national road network during the last six years. The third World Bank Road Rehabilitation Project, which commenced in 1996 to rehabilitate 397 km of roads and reconstruct 19 bridges was completed.

Widening of the Peradeniya-Gampola road 14 km and resurfacing of the Narammala- Giriulla 16 km road were completed. In addition, work on Phase I of Katunayake-Kiriyankalliya road 75 km, which commenced in 1997, was completed in 2000 at a cost of Rs.1,022 million. Phase II of this project from Kiriyankalliya to Puttalam 30 km is also completed. The estimated cost of phase II was Rs.1661 million.

With assistance from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the reconstruction of 10 bridges was also completed in 2000 which cost Rs.151 million. The Ratnapura-Bandarawela Road rehabilitation project commenced in 2000 with financial assistance from the Economic Development Cooperation Funded (EDCF) of Korea.

The RDA implemented several construction and rehabilitation projects with local funds as well. Last year Rs.4,205 million was allocated for these projects and most projects were nearing completion by end 2000. Meanwhile, Phase II of Sri Lanka-Japan Friendship bridge project funded by JBIC was completed in 2000 at a cost of Rs.958 million.

In addition, the construction of a Marine Drive along the Western coastal railway line and the Duplication Road Extension project, were in progress during the year. Land acquisition for these two road projects was completed and the estimated total costs were Rs.204 million and Rs.103 million respectively.

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