- the Southern Expressway which has a total length of 227 km traverses from Kottawa to Hambantota through Galle and Matara. It will link major economic centres such as Hambantota Sea Port and Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport in the Southern Province with the Colombo city and the Northern part of the country through the Outer Circular Highway, Colombo - Katunayake Expressway and the proposed Northern Expressway. The Southern Expressway Extension from Matara to Hambantota with a total length of 96 km consists of four main sections namely, Section 1 (from Matara to Beliatta - 30 km), Section 2 (from Beliatta to Wetiya - 26 km), Section 3 (from Wetiya to Andarawewa - 15 km) and Section 4 (from Mattala to Hambantota via Andarawewa - 25 km). The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to proceed with the activities relating to the loan arrangement for the construction of Section 1 from Matara to Beliatta - 30 km, was approved by the Cabinet.