Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared open the Kapuduwa Interchange of Southern Expressway and Getambe Underpass today (July 02).

Further, PM Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone to construct a Maritime Facilitation Centre at the Colombo Port.

The construction of Maritime Facilitation Centre, undertaken by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, is expected to be completed in 2023 at the cost of Rs. 4,999 million.

Its ceremonial groundbreaking was virtually kicked off by PM Rajapaksa this morning.

The Getambe Underpass in front of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 127 million by the Hunan Construction Engineering Group (HNCEG) in China.

This pedestrian underpass was completed within a period of 12 months, with the aim of eliminating the traffic congestion near the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital for the benefit of people visiting the hospital and the vehicles moving on the Colombo-Kandy Road.

Reportedly, the cost of Kapuduwa Interchange, which connects Matara-Hakmana road to the Southern Expressway, is at Rs. 445 million. It begins near the 130 km Post on the expressway.

The new interchange has been constructed by the China CATIC Corporation within a period of five months.

The three events unfolded at the Temple Trees in Colombo this morning with the participation of a limited number of guests, in compliance with the health guidelines.

Highways Minister Johnston Fernando, Ports & Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and other high-level officials were present at the ceremony.