From Neminda Samarajeewa
Work on the 126km Colombo-Matara highway project will begin during the second week of October.

Under the first phase of this project, 59.5 km will be built from Matara to Kurudugaha, the Road Development Authority’s project director (Southern Province), D. M. Somaratne told a news conference in Galle.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 32.9 billion, he said.

The construction of this highway will be funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Japanese Bank of International Co-operation under a 10-year interest free arrangement. After this period, 1.2% interest will be payable on the investment, he said.

After this project is completed in September 2006, it will be possible to travel from Colombo to Matara in one and a half hours, Somaratne explained.

At present the journey by road takes up to four hours.

It will be completed under two phases.

Resettlement officer Ajantha Kumara said adequate compensation will be paid to those whose houses will have to give way the highway. Some people opt for compensation for property lost while about 800 others had sought alternate government lands, he said.

The new highway will ease congestion and cut down running costs, Somaratne said.