The Southern Expressway Extension from Matara to Hambantota with a total length of 96 km consists of four main sections namely Section 1 (from Matara to Beliatta - 30 km), Section 2 (from Beliatta to Wetiya - 26 km), Section 3 (from Wetiya to Andarawewa - 15 km) and Section 4 (from Mattala to Hambantota via Andarawewa - 25 km).

The Government has signed two Government Concessional Loan Agreements with the Exim Bank of China to finance Section 3 and Section 4 of the Southern Expressway and made arrangements to obtain another two concessional loans from the Exim Bank of China to finance Section 1 and Section 2 of the extension of the Southern Expressway.

Incorporating terms and conditions for initiating action to implement the Construction of Section 1 from Matara to Beliatta Project, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 11 th February 2013 between Road Development Authority of Sri Lanka and China National Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation.

The cost of Construction of Section 1 from Matara to Beliatta has been estimated at Rs. 103,280 Mn.

(ST/KH)