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RDA seeks Rs. 30 billion from Treasury to complete Central Expressway
The Road Development Authority (RDA) is to appeal to the Treasury for funds amounting to Rs 30 billion to complete section II of the Central Expressway before January next year.
The funds are to be used to pay local contractors involved in stage two of the project from Mirigama to Kurunegala spanning a distance of 39 km.
RDA Chairman Nihal Sooriyaarachhi told the Sunday Times they would require Rs five billion before August 10 and hope to meet Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera next week for talks on funds.
“We expect the Treasury to release the funds in instalments of Rs five billion a month to ensure that the project is completed,” he said.
He said they also hoped to complete two sections of the Southern Expressway from Wetiya to Andarawewa (26 km) and Andarawewa to Mattala (25 km) next month while the section from Matara to Wetiya (46 km) is due to be completed in November this year.
He said a decision is to be taken whether they would open the sections as they are completed or wait for the completion of all stages and open it in November this year.
The Government also plans to declare open the Colombo Outer circular road between Kerwalapitiya to Kadawatha in October this year. The road links up to the Southern expressway from Kadawatha.