The government is preparing to begin the construction work on the Kerawalapitiya to Kadawatha 9.32 kilometre stretch which is the third phase of the Outer Circular Highway connecting the Southern Expressway at Makumbura in Kottawa.

The approved civil construction contract for this phase is Rs. 66.6 billion and 95 per cent of this cost would be through a loan from the EXIM Bank of China, said the government.

While the land acquisition for this project is nearing completion now, the compensation for these land acquisitions is reportedly Rs. 01.1 billion.

The government also states that the construction work is being started on the recommendations of the review committee appointed to evaluate the technical and financial aspects of this project.

The loan agreement for this project was signed in Colombo during the earlier regime by former Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera and Export Import Bank of China’s Chairman Li Ruogu.

Once the third phase of this highway is completed, those using the Southern Expressway could continue directly to Katunayake.

The total distance of the Outer Circular Highway is 29.1 kilometres.