The government has planned to divide the construction of the Southern Expressway extension from Godagama to the Hambantota harbour into four phases and hand them over to the respective contractors.

Deputy Highways Minister Nirmala Kothalawala told AdaderanaBiz that the contracts could be awarded by August this year.

“This section is 93 kilometres long. We are now attending to the details of these contracts. It may take around four years for the completion of work after the contracts are awarded,” the deputy minister said.

The extension of the Southern Expressway from Pinnaduwa in Galle to Godagama in Matara was opened recently.