Aerial photo taken on Nov. 8, 2019 shows the extension of Southern Expressway that will link the country's main ports and airports in Sri Lanka. (Xinhua)
An extension of Sri Lanka's Southern Expressway built by Chinese contractors amid the COVID-19 outbreak opened to traffic recently.
The extension will establish a link between Hambantota Port and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the south to the commercial capital of Colombo, reduce the distance between once remote Hambantota and Colombo, and bring great convenience to locals in the area.
COLOMBO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Southern Expressway used to stretch from capital Colombo to the southern district of Matara, but a newly opened extension connects the highway with southeastern district of Hambantota - home to Chinese-built mega-projects such as the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport and the Hambantota Port.
In the last two years, Jeevan Premasara has only been able to visit his family in Colombo once a week while working as the Human Resources Manager at Hambantota Port. But the opening of the Chinese-built extension to the Southern Expressway means that he will get to see his family much more often.
"With the opening of this highway extension, I may be able to visit my family at least two to three times a week. Once public transport starts operating, I can go even more often as it would be safer than driving by myself," Jeevan said.
Before the expressway was built, the trip from Colombo to Hambantota could take up to seven hours. Now with the Southern Expressway and its recently opened extension, it is possible to cut the trip to two and a half hours.
Jeevan said that infrastructure such as the Southern Expressway and its extension have connected previously isolated regions, enabling people like him to make career decisions that would have previously come at great personal cost.
Aerial photo taken on Nov. 12, 2019 shows the extension of Southern Expressway that will link the country's main ports and airports in Sri Lanka. (Xinhua)
BULIDING AMID BATTLING COVID-19
Construction of the 96-km extension began in 2015 and was undertaken by three Chinese contractors including China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (AVIC-KDN), China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSEC) and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). Consultation and supervision was conducted by China Railway First Survey & Design Institute Group (FSDI).
A key challenge for the contractors during the last stages of construction was the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 which introduced new dimensions to on-site health and safety concerns. Locals who normally worked side-by-side with their Chinese comrades were understandably alarmed and some were afraid to come to work.
Ariyaratnam Vijiyanath, a local technician from the eastern town of Batticaloa working for CSEC, said that Chinese contractors took several steps to protect local employees and allay their fears.
"Firstly they gave us face masks. Secondly, public health officials came and explained to us what we have to do to protect ourselves. Thirdly, a Sri Lankan doctor came to conduct temperature checks and blood tests," he said.
Vijiyanath notes that the fear among local workers dissipated thanks to the strict safety measures and progress on construction of the highway continued without delay. He adds that though Chinese supervisors are strict and disciplined at the workplace, they have a "soft heart" when it comes to health and safety.
K. W. Kandambi, a local project director, said that Chinese contractors were critical in transferring new technologies and ensuring higher standards through stringent assessments and quality control measures.
"The quality cannot be sacrificed in any project. Despite minimal delays due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese contractors paid utmost attention to delivering a quality product that would stand the test of time," Kandambi said.
Aerial photo taken on Nov. 4, 2019 shows the extension of Southern Expressway that will link the country's main ports and airports in Sri Lanka. (Xinhua)
LOCAL CONVENIENCE
Lasitha Prasantha, a Human Resources Administrator for a contractor working on the expressway extension and a resident of the southern town of Galle, said that the extension would be of great convenience to locals in the area.
"This extension will give rural southerners faster access to the major national hospitals and universities in Colombo. Furthermore, people who have to travel to Colombo to conduct official work such as issuance of passports, IDs and visas will also have a much easier time," Prasantha said.
D.V. Chanaka, a young MP from Hambantota, noted that local political representatives would now be able to spend more time with their electorate as the highway enabled swift transport to and from Parliamentary sessions in Colombo.
Chanaka also believed that the expressway extension would provide greater access to the town of Kataragama in Hambantota, a local pilgrimage site that carries enormous spiritual significance to Sri Lankan of all faiths, as well as a popular tourist destination.
Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping Johnston Fernando said that locals with lands close to the highway would benefit from the increase in land values, which would enable further commercial development.
Sanath Ukwatte, President of the Tourists Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, said the opening of an extension would improve access to popular tourism zones in the south, south-central and south-eastern regions of the island.
The opening of the extension would also enhance the viability of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport so that in the future, tourists would have the option to bypass the bustling capital of Colombo if they desired.
Meanwhile, Minister of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development Chamal Rajapaksa told Xinhua that the expressway extension would dovetail with his ministry's plans to develop export agriculture as the road would enable transport of produce from farms to port and airports.
Local residents attend a public rally to wait for the official opening of the extension of Southern Expressway that will link the country's main ports and airports near Barawakumbuka, Sri Lanka, Feb. 23, 2020. (Xinhua)
SOUTHERN MEGA-PROJECTS
Secretary to the Ministry of Highways, Port and Shipping R. W. R. Premasiri told Xinhua that the highway extension was critical for the future of the country as it established a link between the up-and-coming Hambantota Port and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the south to the commercial capital of Colombo.
"This will enhance the travel time of goods and passengers which is positive for economic growth. The highway will also help ease congestion in towns and cities on the southern coastal belt," Premasiri said.
"The expressway will also serve as a direct link between the financial centers of Colombo and proposed 15,000 acre industrial zone in Hambantota which is sure to be the future of the Sri Lankan economy," he added.
CEO of Hambantota International Ports Services Ravi Jayawickreme said that the impact of the expressway would be felt in a broad spectrum as it would effectively reduce the distance between once remote Hambantota and Colombo.
He noted that the expressway would allow for faster and safer transport of container traffic from Hambantota to Colombo and vice versa, leading to lower overheads and faster delivery times of goods and services.
"Containers, break bulk cargo, and RORO (roll-on/roll-off) cargo imports from Hambantota can be transported in a more safe and efficient manner using the highway. At the same time, our staff and potential investors can travel back and forth much more easily," Jayawickrema said.
"Life in Hambantota district will change dramatically once these changes begin to take effect," he said.
According to Yin Heng, a Chinese Project Director at CSEC, contractors worked closely with local government authorities to minimize the highway's impact on local paddy farms, and fairly compensate individuals whose lands would be required for building the road.
A unique feature of the expressway extension is a section which has been elevated in order to accommodate an elephant crossing zone in the area.
Yin said that raising the road required more time and money during construction, however, it was done in order to meet environmental standards and to provide elephants a way to navigate through their traditional habitat without colliding with highway traffic.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (1st L), Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (3rd L, front), and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan (2nd L, front), attend the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the extension of Southern Expressway that will link the country's main ports and airports near Barawakumbuka, Sri Lanka, Feb. 23, 2020. (Xinhua)
LOCAL VISION
During the inauguration of the highway which was attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan late last month, political leaders identified the extension as being critical to their development plans for the country.
"The extension of the Southern Expressway up to Hambantota will connect lives, livelihoods and boost economic activity. It's the key infrastructure that links Hambantota Port and Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport and supports our vision in building Sri Lanka as a logistic hub in Asia," President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on his official Twitter account.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa, speaking to hundreds of locals including families and children who came to see the opening, said that the expressway extension would help cement Sri Lanka's strategic position on the Maritime Silk Road between East-West shipping routes.■
