Sri Lanka's expressways struggle with non-functional toll booths, delayed automation

Entry and exit congestion at Sri Lanka's expressways continues to worsen due to the non-operation of several toll booths, with officials citing staff shortages and long delays in the introduction of automated tolling systems as key reasons, the Daily Mirror leams.

- By DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA

Although multiple counters are available at many expressway entry points, such as Kottawa and Kerawalapitiya on the Southern Expressway, several of them remain nonfunctional, leading to long queues and frustration among motorists, especially during peak hours.

Sri Lanka currently operates several expressways, with around 271 to 312 kilometres of expressway network across the country, primarily serving the southern and central regions.

During the 2025 Sinhala and Tamil New Year period (April 10-19), approximately 1.3 million vehicles travelled on these expressways over 10 days, generating revenue of around Rs. 462 million. In addition, during a three-day peak window (April 11-13), about 387,000 vehicles were recorded, yielding Rs. 134 million in tolls.