The Ruwanpura Expressway, also known as the Ratnapura Expressway will be Sri Lanka's sixth E Class highway. The 71.8-kilometre-long (44.6 mi) highway will link the Kahathuduwa exit on the Southern Expressway with Pelmadulla, a major city in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, via Ratnapura, the provincial capital of Sabargamuwa Province.
| Ratnapura Expressway | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Maintained by the Road Development Authority | |
| Length | 71.8 km (44.6 mi) |
| History | Construction Started |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Kahathuduwa E01 Southern Expressway |
| South end | Pelmadulla A4 |
| Location | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Provinces | Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka |
| Towns | Horana, Ingiriya, Kiriella, Kuruwita, Thiruwanaketiya, Ratnapura |
| Highway system | |
| |
In 2014 President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government proposed and granted approval for the project. It was initially proposed to commence construction in 2014 and to be completed in 2019.[1][2][3][4]
Construction of the highway was then proposed to commence in January 2017 and be built in three stages. The construction contract was awarded to a Chinese Company.[5] The expressway was then proposed to be completed by 2019. [6][7] But constructions were not started.
In 2020, newly elected government cancelled the contract to the Chinese firm and started the construction works of 1st phase 26 kilometre section at a cost of 54.7 billion rupees with domestic finance. Contract was awarded to Sri Lanka–based Maga Constructions.[8]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "President approves construction of new highway via Ratnapura". NewsFirst.lk. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "GOVERNMENT TO CONSTRUCT RUWANPURA EXPRESSWAY". onlanka.com. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Colombo-Ratnapura expressway work to begin soon". onlanka.com. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Government to construct Ruwanpura Expressway". news.lk. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Ruwanpura Expressway contract to a Chinese firm". February 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ Range, Irangika (12 July 2014). "Work on Ruwanpura Expressway to begin this year". Daily News. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Feasibility study for Colombo-Ratnapura highway completed". Read Sri Lanka. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Sri Lanka PM flags off Rs54bn Ruwanpura Expressway". economynext.com. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.