Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says the construction of the Colombo-Kandy expressway will be completed by 2020 and by that time the city of Kandy would have undergone a massive development.
Speaking at the inaugural rally organized by the United National Party on behalf of the local government election candidates of the party in Kandy, the Premier said following the completion of the Central Expressway, the city will be transformed in to a tourist hub.
A number of senior leaders of the party joined the rally held at the central marketplace of Kandy under the patronage of the Premier.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that he proposed the Colombo-Kandy expressway be built way back but then the party lost the elections. Mahinda Rajapaksa came into power and remained as president for 9 years but he still could not build the highway. In 2015 when he became the prime minister the construction of the highway was launched. He added that the construction of the expressway is now begun and could be completed before the general election in 2020.
The Premier said several sites have been identified in Kandy, including Gannoruwa and Digana that will undergo major restructuring. He said the perimeter of the Kandy city will be expanded and several sites were already inspected.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe added the government will construct a heritage building in the city for tourists and the former Bogambara prison premises will be replaced as a tourist attraction.
The Prime Minister requested the people to give single power to the UNP from the Kandy Municipal Council as well as other Pradeshiya Sabhas to enable them to carry out the work in the future as well.
