CLOSED BOOTHS, STALLED TOLL AUTOMATION CHOKE EXPRESSWAYS DURING RUSH HOURS

Congestion at Sri Lanka’s expressway toll gates has worsened especially during peak hours, with motorists facing long waits as multiple booths remain closed due to staff shortages and prolonged delays in introducing automated tolling systems, the Daily Mirror learns.

- By DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA

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.

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.

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.

Expressway officials told the Daily Mirror that many toll booths remain nonoperational due to a continuing shortage of staff.