Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda says that the Southern Expressway can be ready by April 2011. The architect of Sri Lanka’s successful naval strategy which destroyed the LTTE’s shipping network and paved the way for the navy to expand the scope of its operations, both here and overseas, believes that the 126 km long highway will be a tremendous boost to the economy of the entire country. In an interview with The Island, Secretary to the Highways and Road Development Ministry, Karannagoda responded to criticism of severe shortcomings in the project, in relation to the construction of bridges.