The second phase of the Southern Expressway from Pinnaduwa in Galle to Godagama in Matara was ceremonially declared opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (15).  

A special ceremony to mark the occasion was held at Godagama, Matara under the patronage of President Rajapaksa.
 
The Southern Expressway is Sri Lanka’s first E Class highway.  

With the opening of the second phase, the 126 km (78 mi) long highway will link Colombo with Matara.

Construction on the highway began in 2006 and the first phase from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa in Galle was declared open on 27 November 2011.
 
The expressway will reduce the time taken to travel from Colombo to Matara (161 km) to one and a half hours from the current four hours, and currently reduces the time taken to travel from Colombo to Galle (116 km) to one hour from the three hours taken by the regular Colombo-Matara highway.
 
The section from Pinnaduwa to Godagama will have two interchanges at Imaduwa and Kokmaduwa, four bridges, 46 underpasses and 12 box culverts. The project costing US$ 180 million was funded by the Exim Bank of China.
 
Under the third phase, the Southern Expressway will be extended from Matara to Hambantota connecting the Mattala International Airport to Colombo. The construction of the 75 km segment from Matara-Godagama to the Hambantota harbour via Beliatta, Andarawewa and Mattala will commence next month.