An accident occurred this morning on the Southern Expressway when three vehicles collided on the lane heading from Matara towards Colombo.

Police said the crash took place near the 115th kilometer post, between Kokmaduwa and Imaduwa. 

One vehicle overturned in the collision, while two people sustained injuries and were rushed for treatment.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the accident, which caused temporary disruption along the expressway. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

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Sri Lanka Police say a major drug haul was intercepted on the Southern Expressway, following a special operation by the Expressway Division.

According to the Police, officers stopped a car traveling towards Colombo from the Aparekka interchange in the morning and recovered two parcels containing 2.350 kilos of crystal methamphetamine (ICE).

Two suspects, aged 24 and 32, were arrested. Investigations revealed the narcotics were being transported to the Wanathamulla area. 

Police also seized Rs. 97,000 found in the possession of one suspect, an employee of the Colombo Municipal Council, believed to be linked to the trafficking operation.

The suspects and the seized drugs have been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation. 

The Police further said that the Expressway Division conducts special search operations covering all 31 interchanges to intercept illegal activities. 

The public has been urged to extend full cooperation to officers during vehicle inspections to ensure effective enforcement. (Newswire)

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The Welipenna interchange of the Southern Expressway has been reopened for traffic after being temporarily closed due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall yesterday (13).

The Aluthgama–Matugama road section at the interchange was submerged, forcing the closure of the entrance gate towards Colombo, the exit gate for vehicles arriving from Colombo, and the exit gate for vehicles arriving from Galle.

The Police said the restrictions applied to light vehicles only.

However, with water levels receding, the Police said that all affected entry and exit points have now been restored for vehicular movement. (Newswire)

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Two suspects were arrested by Expressway Police this morning, after officers intercepted a suspicious car at the Palatuwa interchange.

Police said the driver and another individual attempted to flee during the inspection but were apprehended. 

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 6 kilos of ‘ICE’ narcotics and about 5 kilos of heroin.

The suspects, aged 20 and 21, are residents of Matara. 

The Expressway Division Superintendent of Police confirmed that the arrests were made following prior intelligence received by the division.

The seized narcotics and the arrested individuals are to be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation. (Newswire)

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An accident occurred this morning (13) between a lorry and a bus on the Southern Expressway, between the Kurundugahahetekma and Welipanna entry points.

As a result of the accident, heavy traffic congestion was reported towards Matara at that time.

No injuries were caused to anyone in the incident, and the Southern Expressway Control Centre has confirmed that traffic flow has now returned to normal. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

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The Ministry of Transport says the Kaduwela Exit of the Southern Expressway for vehicles coming from Kadawatha is inundated.

The ministry said that motorists are urged to use alternative routes. 

Meanwhile, the Road Development Authority says traffic on the Southern Expressway has been restricted to one lane due to an unsafe situation.

As such, traffic on the Southern Expressway will be restricted to one lane from Kahathuduwa towards Colombo. (Newswire)

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A wild elephant was reported on the Southern Expressway close to an exit point recently.

Video footage shows the elephant walking towards oncoming vehicles, halting traffic.

Several vehicles were seen slowing down and being forced to drive away cautiously. (Newswire)

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Construction of the second rest area along the Southern Expressway has commenced in the Udukawa area of Matara, aimed at providing rest and amenities to drivers and passengers travelling between Kottawa and Mattala.

The project was officially launched on Monday (29) under the aegis of Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, Professor Kapila C.K. Perera.

Located near the 119th kilometre mark between Matara Godagama and Kokmaduwa, the rest area is being built with an initial allocation of Rs. 43 million. 

Phase one will accommodate approximately 30 vehicles at a time. Phase two will expand the facility into a fully equipped service zone with enhanced capacity and amenities.

Currently, the only existing rest area on the Southern Expressway is in the Welipenna region. This new facility is being developed as a fast-track project to improve safety and comfort for road users. Construction is expected to be completed within three months.

Guided by the advice of Minister of Transport, Bimal Rathnayake, the initiative is part of a broader plan to establish rest areas that meet international standards across the 314-kilometre expressway network, prioritizing passenger safety and convenience. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted to award the contract for the renovation of the section of the road from Kottawa to Dodangoda of the Southern Expressway. 

The section of the road from Kottawa to Dodangoda on the Southern Expressway, which was opened to traffic in 2011, has not undergone any major repairs to date. 

The government states that the expeditious renovation of the expressway section from 0 km to 19 km and the expressway section from 19 km to 34 km of the Southern Expressway has been identified under two (2) packages. 

Accordingly, the damaged expressway section from 0 km to 19 km, covering a 19 km stretch of a 4-lane expressway, has been planned to be repaired under the second package. 

Bids have been invited from local contractors under the national competitive procedure, and five bids have been submitted for that purpose. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport and Highways to award the relevant contract to M/s Access WKK Joint Venture, the lowest responsive bidder.

The contract is to be awarded for the amount of Rs. 1,490.96 million based on the recommendations of the Bid Evaluation Committee and the Cabinet Standing Procurement Committee. (Newswire)

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Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake says a small new service station will be launched in a location called Udukawa on the Southern Expressway.

Minister Rathnayake said that the new service station will be launched by the end of this September.

“Along the Southern Expressway, we’ve noticed that there’s only one service centre available. The construction of additional service centres was reportedly withheld due to concerns that it might negatively impact certain businesses. We hope that by the end of this September, a small new service station will be launched in a location called Udukawa,” he said. 

Minister Rathnayake further said that thanks to this new service station on the Southern Expressway, those who travel from Mattala no longer need to wait until they reach Aluthgama just to use a washroom or grab a cup of tea. 

“We believe the Road Development Authority will initiate this work swiftly,” he said.

The Transport Minister clarified that this issue does not arise with the Central Expressway, where such service facilities are being constructed as part of the overall development.

Minister Bimal Rathnayake made the remarks while addressing the event held today to launch the resumption of the construction of the Kadawatha- Mirigama Section of the Central Expressway. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to award the contract to Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, for the renovation of the area between the 19th and 34th kilometre of the Southern Expressway between Kottawa and Dodangoda.

According to the government, extensive surface cracks and degradation of internal structural layers have been observed in the said area. 

Therefore, it has been identified that the aforementioned part of the Expressway should be renovated, the degraded base area should be repaired, and the surface overlay should be applied. 

For that purpose, bids were invited from the qualified local institutions, following the National Competitive Procurement procedure. 

Having appraised the received bids, the High Level Standing Procurement Committee has recommended awarding the contract to Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, the lowest responsive bidder.

As such, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport and Highways to award the contract to Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd for the renovation. (Newswire)

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Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake says the Rajapaksa family had leased the service area of ​​the Southern Expressway for 99 years for Rs. 10,000.

Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Rathnayake said that the associates of the Rajapaksa family had prevented the construction of several other approved service areas.

“There were several discrepancies during the construction of the Southern Expressway, with several being implemented against the feasibility studies. Billions have been wasted through this project,” he said. 

The minister revealed that one such discrepancy was the construction of two interchanges with entry points that were not part of the original plan of the Southern Expressway. 

“One is Kapuduwa, which is 05 KM away from Godagama in Matale. This only facilitates travel to and from Colombo. Another one is Bedigama, which is 06 Km away from Beliatta,” he said, adding that over Rs. 10 million is spent to construct one interchange. 

He made the remarks in response to questions raised by opposition MPs Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Ajith. P. Perera, in Parliament today. (Newswire)

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A 41-year-old man has died after being run over by a car while inspecting a vehicle that had broken down due to a mechanical failure in the Kahathuduwa area on the Southern Expressway last evening.

According to the Police, while travelling from Matara to Kottawa, a vehicle had suffered a mechanical fault and had been forced to stop by the side of the road.

A man who had arrived to inspect the vehicle had been run over by another vehicle, travelling in the same direction, resulting in his immediate death.

The deceased is a 41-year-old resident of Thummodara. 

The driver and two passengers of the other car were admitted to the Homagama Hospital with injuries. The Kahathuduwa Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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Video footage has emerged of a child driving a vehicle on the Southern Expressway.

The child is seen steering the car, seated on the driver’s lap, with video footage of the incident being captured by a fellow motorist.

The exact location of the incident is unknown. (Newswire/ Video- Accident1st)

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A multi-vehicle collision was reported near the Gelanigama Interchange on the Southern Expressway this morning.

According to the Highway Police, four vehicles plying from Matara to Colombo had collided.

The vehicles involved in the accident are two vans, a car, and a lorry.

No casualties were reported in the accident, while the four injured persons have been hospitalised. 

The Highway Police is conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

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One person was reported dead and 12 tourists were injured when the private coach they were travelling in met with an accident on the Southern Expressway today.

The Police said the vehicle, plying from Colombo to Mattala, had collided with a lorry travelling in front between Aparekka and Beliatta around 5.15 am today. 

The driver of the coach had died on the spot, while the 12 foreign tourists in the vehicle had sustained injuries. 

The injured tourists had been admitted to the Beliatta Hospital following the incident, after which 07 had been transferred to the Tangalle Hospital for further treatment. (Newswire/ Image – Accident1st)

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Two maintenance workers at the Southern Expressway were reported dead in an accident on the highway today (Feb 27).

According to the Police, the two workers had died after a lorry hit the protective barrier near Kurundugaha Hethekma where the workers had been stationed.

The two workers who had sustained serious injuries in the accident had died after being admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital. 

The accident is reported to have taken place at around 11.41 am today. (NewsWire)

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A group of foreign tourists have been injured in an accident reported on the Southern Expressway today, it was reported.

According to Lankadeepa, a van carrying the tourists had collided with a lorry at the 187 KM post area between Hambantota and Mattala. 

The injured tourists, Russian nationals, were admitted to the Hambantota Hospital following the accident. 

It is reported that four Russian tourists had been injured in the accident. (NewsWire)

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Two women have been killed in a road accident reported close to Kurundugahahetekma on the Southern Expressway last night (Jan 03).

The Police said a van travelling from Colombo to Mattala had collided with a lorry travelling in front in the same direction.

Six persons, including the driver of the van who had sustained injuries in the accident, had been admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. 

A 57-year-old woman and her 32-year-old daughter had succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment in hospital. 

The Southern Expressway Kurundugahahetekma Police is conducting investigations into the accident. (NewsWire/ Pic – Accident1st)

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One lane of the stretch of road obstructed due to an earth slip between Pinnaduwa and Imaduwa interchanges on the Southern Expressway will be open for traffic this evening, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said.

According to the RDA, the lane will be open for traffic both ways from 6:00 p.m. today.

Providing an update on the road earlier today, the Expressway Operation Maintenance And Management Division said measures were underway for the restoration of the road. 

Clearing work required to reopen the expressway for traffic was being carried out by the Division’s task force.

Traffic was suspended on the stretch of road near the 102km Post between Pinnaduwa and Imaduwa interchanges following a recent earth slip due to inclement weather. (NewsWire)

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