By Nihal Sooriyarachchi,
Former Chairman, RDA
Construction industry of Sri Lanka achieved another milestone by opening the newly constructed 40km Expressway section from Meerigama to Kurunegala.
Successful completion of the Meerigama – Kurunegala stretch, the second section of the Central Expressway project (CEP ii), the designers, engineering consultancy institutions, the construction establishments and the professionals of the country have proved beyond doubt that, they as a team can compete with anyone in the world in construction of expressways.
We wish to congratulate them for the fulfillment of the dreams the decision makers had in mind in 2016 that our construction industry could go out of the country to compete with establishment in the international field and paved the way for major road contractors as many as 15 numbers to gain pre-qualifications for construction of expressways instead of giving that for a few firms.
In the CEP ii, the designers of Road Development Authority, the local Consultancy firms and the local Constructions firms got together from the begininng with a clear mind of doing the work as best as they could and came out the work in style to match with any international contractors in the field.
Now, the local construction companies have acquired the prequalification to carryout international expressway projects.
This expressway section embedded with special safety features like sonic alert pattern and specially checked for hydroplane to improve the road surface conditions to minimize skidding in rainy conditions for the first time in Sri Lanka Expressway history.
I sincerely admire the commitment of the local public for the generosity extended in the process of land acquisition for the construction of this expressway. I take this opportunity to thank all the divisions of the RDA, project staff formally headed by Mr. V. Mohan and current project director Mr. Kehellalla along with the local consultant companies, construction firms and dearest staff who worked towards the success of the project.
Similarly, I thank the political authority for keeping the confidence on the local
construction industry and giving the opportunity to serve the largest road development project of the history carried out by local construction companies.
Now the main focus of the major members of local construction industry shall be the acquiring of foreign construction projects in the region which enhances the industry to the next level and thereby gaining much needed foreign currency to Sri Lanka but not to be in the rat races for the local projects.