Sri Lanka’s expressway network programme impresses multilateral donor
Sri Lanka’s expressway network was recently commended by Asian Development Bank Country Director Dr Chen Chen.
Chen has reportedly stated that the Southern Expressway is the best in the South Asian region.
This was discussed during a discussion between ADB Director General for South Asia Department, Kenichi Yokoyama and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando at the Ministry of Highways recently.
During the meeting, Minister Fernando has informed the ADB top officials that Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has a plan to build an interconnected network of expressways ensuring the road connectivity linking the north, east, south and western regions of the country.
The Minister has also explained the progress achieved by the Highways Ministry under the incumbent government.
The Minister has discussed with the ADB officials the progress of rural road development projects, road safety, managing traffic congestions and the highway development projects to be started shortly.
The ADB officials have said the I-Road project (Integrated Road Investment Programme) to improve the connectivity between rural communities and socioeconomic centres by improving the transport efficiency on selected national, provincial and local roads has become a model road development project for many other developing nations.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s ongoing aggressive development programme covering all key economic sectors has increased the business potential in the island. Sri Lanka is working towards achieving the target of becoming an emerging business hub in the South Asian region. Sri Lankan authorities are focused on building and developing the country’s road network in a bid to improve connectivity in the country. Given the growing business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s key economic sectors, foreign businesses/investors could explore the expanding opportunities in the country.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/11102021/Z_4 |