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Marine Drive extension resumes on Jan 01; southward extension to stretch to Panadura
Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that the one-kilometre extension of the Marine Drive from the Colpetty Railway Station to the Hotel Ranmuthu would be resumed on Jan 1 and completed within 60 days.
There is a 300m stretch of the road to be completed, near the US Embassy, and work thereon would commence on 01 Jan. 2021, the Minister said.
Speaking to the media after an inspection tour to the site, Minister Fernando said that when the work was completed the Marine Drive would have a tunnel and an overhead bridge connecting the railway station.
“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wants this work completed expeditiously to reduce traffic congestion on the Galle Road. The work was suspended due to security concerns with regard to the stretch of the road across the premises of the US Embassy. I met Embassy officials and the matter was sorted out. The work will resume on Jan 01.
The construction work will go on round the clock seven days a week, the Minister said, adding that the Marine Drive would be extended up to Panadura. The project has been designed to expand the existing Marine Drive through an underground tunnel through the Galle Face Green which will then be connected to an elevated highway on the Port City, linking up to the New Kelani Bridge.
Chairman of the Road Development Authority Chaminda Athuluwage, Working Director of RDA Chaminda Basnayake, Project Director K. Selvanathan were also present.
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“Improve the quality of infrastructure and services provided to tourists visiting the country.” – President
President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized the necessity of providing high-quality infrastructure and services for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, as the country has gained significant international recognition as an attractive tourist destination.
Accordingly, the President instructed officials to pay special attention to this matter and take necessary actions.
President Disanayake issued these instructions during a discussion held today (17) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Tourism.
During the discussion, officials briefed the President on the budgetary allocations designated for the Ministry of Tourism and the projects being implemented under those funds.
With the tourism sector taking a new step forward, Sri Lanka aims to attract three million tourists this year. The discussion also extensively covered the utilization of these budgetary allocations for the development of essential infrastructure to support this goal.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Employment Vijitha Herath, Deputy Minister of Tourism Dr. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, along with a group of senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, attended this discussion.
The French Navy Ship PROVENCE arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on Sunday (16 Mar 25) morning.
She was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with the time-honoured naval traditions.
The 142.20m long Destroyer is Commanded by Captain Lionel SIEGFRIED and manned by a crew of 160 members.
During the stay in the island, crew members of PROVENCE will visit some tourist hotspots in the country and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 20 Mar.
The Court of Appeal this [17] morning dismissed the writ petition filed by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, seeking an interim injunction to prevent the execution of the arrest order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court against him.
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