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One hour Colombo-Kandy ride on toll road - Work on Expressway to begin soon: Jeyaraj
Sunday, 5 March 2006 - 2:02 AM SL Time
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Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle last week reported to cabinet that work on the US$ 300 million Colombo-Kandy Expressway will begin soon, officials said.
This new road will enable a one-hour drive between Colombo and Kandy and is expected to substantially improve the hill capital`s tourism potential.
It was reported that construction work is likely to be undertaken by a consortium of Malaysian companies experienced in building highways linking Kuala Lumpur to the Malaysian hinterland.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, widely regarded as the architect of modern Malaysia, who was in Sri Lanka some months ago advised the government to quickly begin work on two super highway projects ' Colombo-Katunayake and Colombo-Kandy to facilitate both tourism and development.
Fernandopulle was in Kuala Lumpur last week and had a meeting with Public Works Minister Samy Velu. During this visit, he signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian authorities for building the Colombo-Kandy Expressway in which a consortium of Malaysian companies will invest US$ 300 million.
The new Expressway will be a toll road and is likely to be undertaken on a BOO (Build, Operate and Own) basis, governmental sources said.
The new road which will link Katunayake with Kandy will cut through Divulapitiya and Gampaha where land acquisition has already been completed.
From Gampaha the highway will continue along the existing road up to Rambukkana from where it will go via Hataraliyadde in the Galagedera electorate to Aludeniya in Harispattuwa and join the entrance to Kandy at Katugastota where a new bridge across the Mahaweli is already under construction.
President Mahinda Rajapakse recently inaugurated work on the new Katugastota bridge some weeks ago.
The Business Standard newspaper reported that Fernandopulle had told cabinet that there are a few obstacles to overcome to speed up the project. A further US$ 30 million to compensate land owners is needed, he said and he was negotiating a soft loan from Malaysia to get the project off the ground as soon as possible.
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AnuD
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Joined: May 2005
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5 Mar 2006 05:33:03 GMT Report for Abuse
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Chandrasekaran and Thondaman were initially loyal LTTE henchman. Suddenly, they became members of tha governing party.
Now, LTTE wants Jeyaraj to come to Kilinochchi.
What is going on.
At the same time, Vaiko a member of the governing party in the central govt. made an alliance for the next election with Jeyalalitha.
This means LTTE is looking for influence in both the Indian central govt, tamil nadu state govt.
IS LTTE LOOKING FOR SIMILAR INFLUENCE IN sl GOVT. OR TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE?. |
samanj
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Joined: Dec 2004
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5 Mar 2006 12:58:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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AnuD : Of course you are right.
His cousin or nephew her served as an officer in
SLA and who happened to allegedly shoot himself
in the foot & rushed to Colombo when such an
injury could have been treated where he was posted at the time in the Jaffna Peninsula will have more to tell you if he dared to speak.
Because, the very next day this camp was attacked. The junior officer present was a Kotelawala academy graduate.
Disgusted, he is no mmore serving the SLA. Deserted & sought assylum.
For the sake of politics & power, you throw caution to the winds. Infilterated through & through & yert continues. |
anagami
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 59
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5 Mar 2006 16:21:25 GMT Report for Abuse
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Aiyo
were we able to extend the rail lines built by Sudda fellows
What r we talking. Nonsense
Yeah I saw 2 days ago the fast development taking place in Delhi. Jayrajh Fernando pulle should go there and stay couple of days there to see and take advises |
Fairplay
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5 Mar 2006 16:48:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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((((This new road will enable a one-hour drive between Colombo and Kandy and is expected to substantially improve the hill capital's tourism potential.))))
Tourists coming to SL want to travel along the traditional ways that give them a glimpse of the natural beauty and the landscape of the hill country. The kadugannawa pass is a spectacular natural beauty and the vicinity brings some refreshment to youe mind and emotions. These are all importantant elements in Tourism which is called the 'Experience Economy'.
Rushing the tourists on a speedway to the hill country curtails the experience that the tourist is looking for.
This highway does not serve any significant facility to the Tourist industry.
Most probably will be used by businesses to expedite their daily commute at a cost.
Fairplay |
grw1
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5 Mar 2006 18:46:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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Three things are important to a country's economic development. Political stability, a good infrastructure and a capable workforce.
We do have a capable work force.
Since 1983 the is no political stability. Hopefully a carefully handled peace process will bring the tigers to a democratic process bringing economic progress not only to the southern provinces but also to the rest of the country.
General infrastructure has been deteriorating since late 60's but lately has been improving gradually. A reliable train lines are still missing. Due to the introduction of cellular networks telecommunication has improved. Building expressways will certainly complete another part of it, communication. Well laid expressways help to get the produce to the ports and market with less spoilage of produce among others. It is in no way build with the intention of getting the tourist fast to Kandy as it is been reported.
We have been lacking these expressways all these years. Initially one was to be built in the sixties, but due to political haggling and kickbacks received they were
on-and-off up to now. I do sincerely hope that this time it will not be discontinued whoever comes in to power after the present president. A well known architect recently suggested to replace the Colombo-Katunayake express way plan with a Colombo-Anuradhapura-Trinco expressway and have connections to it from Katunayake and Kandy. I personally think this is a better idea. I would also say that connections to Jaffna and Batticaloa would have been also useful. However, it seems too late for such a modification now.
Immediately after the Tsunami there was a report saying that the US will fund a extension of the Colombo Matara rail road up to Batticaloa. This would have improved the economy of that part of the country. I haven't read anything about that since then. The authorities should pursue that with the US government and implement it as well soon. |
ReYbeeZ
Joined: Apr 2005
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5 Mar 2006 19:39:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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Fairlplay,
I think your being silly. I dont think just because its written in a book its practical. Thats what is the whole problem with lanka. Are we ever short of educated people. No. But we lack practical thinking. We try to work accordign to the books.
I was travelling in Lanka with a good friend of mine from France and she was sleeping all the way to Kandy as the journey was too long. Sh eloved everything about the country except for the roads and the bad driving.
I was also in Malasia. And I was highly impressed with the way they have built those highways. I think toll roads are a brilliant idea. if the tourists wanan see the beauty they will take the old road since there will be less traffic once the highway is built. But there are maybe at least 200000 people on Kandy road. they need to get there quickly. Imagine if we can save 2 hrs of travel time for every one of these people.
Stop Critisising. Fernando pulle will earn some big buck out of this project just like chandrika did out of the air lanka deal. but in the long run the country will make lot more money and it will develop fast. We need Roads! |
DrAkai
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5 Mar 2006 19:53:26 GMT Report for Abuse
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Fairplay and ReyBeez,
I think you both have decent factors to make a point of the highway.
Some tourists do like to obeserve the surroundings on the way to the destination thus would prefer to take the arduous long journey that takes 4 hours. But on the other hand some tourists do prefer to be at the destination in quick time and get on with other matters so for those people highway is a good option so as far as the tourists are concerned they have an option to select which raod that they wish to be taken to the journey.
However highway will definitely build bridges for the business thus economic development therefore a good choice. |
Bonggo
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5 Mar 2006 21:41:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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STOP TALKING PLEASE. WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT HIGHWAYS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS AND STIL NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
IT IS A NECESSITY NOT A LUXURY, SO GET ON WITH THEM PLEASE. |
saliya
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 109
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5 Mar 2006 23:34:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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We have been talking more than 10 years about this topics. There is no argument that Sri Lanka needs at least 5 highways, Colombo-Hambantota, Colombo-Kandy, Colombo-Jaffna via A'pura, Colombo-Badulla via Rantapura and Colombo Batticaloa.
There are many srilankan companies operating in foreign countries including USA, Canada, EEC and Scandinavian countries they wish to invest money in Sri Lanka.
As a habit SL government go behind donors for these types of investments.
If we can develop infrastructure of the country, specially road network, water, power and communication Sri Lanka can achieve most of targets easily. |
Kulakottan
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6 Mar 2006 00:10:52 GMT Report for Abuse
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Sri Lanka lacks transport infrastructure and there is no doubt about that.
Today tourists are spending in excess of 4-5 hours to go from the airport to their point of interest.
Though there is some truth in what Fairplay says, many tourist would like not to spend too much time on travelling. If they want to have a long driving experience, they could still do by choosing the traditional route.
However, its not going to be one hour. Because UNP started it, this GOSL abandoned the Colombo-Katunayake highway even after the landfilling had alreday been done. It takes one hour to go to Katunayake from Colombo. Then an hour from there to Kandy.
In any case, better than nothing.
But..........
I hope that its not another annaouncement only for the elections; like the Southeren airport...
Kula |
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