Minister Bimal Ratnayake alleges that expressway interchanges were built for Rajapaksa allies’ convenience, including 99-year lease of service zone for just Rs. 10,000.
Expressway for the Elite? Bimal Ratnayake Alleges Rajapaksa Regime Built Southern Interchanges for Personal Access
In a fiery statement to Parliament, Minister Bimal Ratnayake criticized the Rajapaksa administration for allegedly misusing state infrastructure projects to serve personal and political interests, citing the construction of interchanges along the Southern Expressway as key examples.
Ratnayake stated that several expressway interchanges were strategically built to enable easy access for politicians to travel between Colombo and their hometowns, rather than based on public need or proper feasibility studies.
He highlighted that the Matara-Godagama interchange was placed 5 kilometers away in Kapuduwa, solely to benefit a figure referred to as “Ranawaka,” enabling his regular travel from Colombo. Similarly, the Beliatta interchange was constructed 6 kilometers off-course in Deedigama, again raising questions about its necessity and rationale.
Further stirring controversy, Ratnayake revealed that the only service zone on the Southern Expressway was leased during the Rajapaksa era for 99 years at just Rs. 10,000—a shockingly low sum for such a long-term and strategically located asset.
He emphasized that each interchange costs roughly Rs. 100 million, implying significant public expenditure on potentially misdirected infrastructure.
“The very people who are responsible for these questionable decisions are now coming forward and preaching about governance and accountability,” the Minister remarked.
He added that since the Southern Expressway was Sri Lanka’s first major expressway, its original design and implementation underwent multiple revisions, many of which now appear to have served political or personal agendas rather than public interest.
The speech underscores growing scrutiny over past infrastructure projects and raises broader concerns about transparency, land use policy, and prioritization in national development.
About the Author
