Port Access Elevated Highway -- snail's speed development

Recent revelation that the construction of the Port Access Elevated Highway (PAEH) -- much needed 5.3 km road connection built on posts expected to connect the Harbour to New Kelani Bridge, entrance and thence to the country’s expressway -- might get delayed for another two years is a clear reflection on Sri Lanka’s snail-speed development.

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The access road initially started with the aim of getting container loads from the port in 5 minutes avoiding Colombo’s busy traffic, and thereafter sent to the rest of the country, has already dragged on for more than six years. Started in September 2019 under the Yahapalanaya government, the PAEH also aimed to connect with the Chinese built Colombo Port City, and ease the traffic jam in Colombo with faster entrance to the capital and the exit. With a loan provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and about US$60 million of government funding, the project was initially targeted to be completed in two years. But, unfortunately blocked by the closing down of the country due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the project got dragged for two more years.