The expressway deigned to connect the southern region of Matara with the capital Colombo significantly cutting down travel time costs several hundred millions of dollars.

According to R W R Premasiri, the General Manager of the Road Development Authority about 35% of the expressway has now been completed but more funding to the tune of 130 to 150 million US dollars would be needed to finish the project.

The manila biased Asian Development Bank (ADB) has nearly doubled its commitment to funding the expressway in March from US$90 million in 1990 to US$140 million for the project. The Nordic Development fund, The Japan Bank for International Corporation and the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency are all contributing for this project.

This 178 kilometre expressway when completed would have a combination of 2 and 4 lanes of traffic and is expected to lower food prices especially in Colombo as a significant amount of food and other basic items are transported painstakingly slow along the current roads that are jam packed and pot holed while giving new blood to the markets of the rural southern regions.

Sri Lanka in recent years has started to rebuild its infrastructure that has been neglected for the past 20 years mainly due to the war in the North.

The whole town of Kandy is buzzing with excitement for this festival . Kandy Municipal Council Commissioner, Wimalasiri said “a committee has been appointed to look into beautifying the Kandy town and many projects approved are already under way”. Hotels and businesses across the town has been preparing for this annual even all year, while organisers are setting up extra sanitary facilities and assistance desks across town to help the sudden influx of visitors from near and far.

This year like previously it is going to be an extravaganza of lights, fire and flamboyantly dressed dancing elephants marching with flame throwers accompanied by traditional Kandian dancers. Lines and files of traditional drummers turn up the heat with the ecstatic beats that races your heart and the whole ground shakes as they pass.

The town of Kandy boasts a variety of accommodation styles ranging from backpacking hostels to world class accommodation. Some of the hotels are Hotel Tree of Life (4 star), Queens Hotel (3 star) and Hotel Earls Regency (5 star). Many International travellers have booking facilities direct to many hotels in this beautiful hilly town of Kandy.

The increase in aid to Sri Lanka by Iran is due to the growing friendship between the two countries. In April Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Sri Lanka to inaugurate various development projects initiated by Iran. Iran has pledged 450 million dollars to build a 150 megawatt power plant and upgrade and modernize the only oil refinery in the country.

Sri Lanka has seen a long civil war spanning more than two decades and has resumed engaging in battle with the armed forces of Liberation of Tamil Tigers Elam (LTTE) after the Norwegian brokered negotiations broke down.

The country has about 96,695 km of roads. Total length of roads is 11,285 km from which 10,721 km are paved and 564 km are unpaved. As many roads are narrow, government has now launched several projects aiming to bolster the economy and the transport system. The plan includes Colombo – Katunayaka Express way, Colombo – Kandy Express way, Colombo – Padeniya Express way and outer circular high way. However still the main roads in Colombo and around the town are in good condition and the roads that are commonly used are upgraded and repaved.

Bus transport which is provided by the state-run Sri Lanka Transport Board known as CTB is the principle mode of public transport in the country. However there are privates and air conditioned buses too.

Cars are very easily available in Sri Lanka for hire. Air conditioned and radio cabs are also available in Colombo. These car rentals services provides with a driver for a day or more tours. Moreover international rent a car companies are also represented in Colombo. This includes AVIS, HERTZ, EUROPE CAR and many more companies.

Sri Lanka’s most of the cities and towns are connected by railways. Sri Lanka Government Railway operates the country’s railway network. The railway which developed during the British colonial period now connects the main cities of Kandy, Galle, Matara, Anuradhapura, Gampaha, Negombo, Kurunegala, Avissawella, Kalutara, Polunnaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Badulla, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Matele, Vavuniya, Puttalam and Chilaw with capital Colombo.

Planes are also a means of transport in Sri Lanka. The major domestic airport is Ratmalana at Colombo. They have daily scheduled flights to other small airports. There are 14 airports in Sri Lanka (est. 1999). Sea planes from Sri Lankan airlines offer the most convenient way of travelling around the country, which reduces the travelling time. Helicopters are also available for hire. Helicopters can be booked and land anywhere outside restricted areas.

In north-east monsoon, it rains to northern and eastern regions from December to January, while in south-west monsoon it rains from May to July to the western, southern and central regions of the country. January is known as the coolest month and more cold in mountain regions.

Although, Sri Lanka is a tropical and hot country, the mountain regions are quite cool with an average temperature of 16 ºC.

Kandy Dancers

In February 1948, Sri Lanka became an independent member of the British Commonwealth. The country is now in the process of creating peace but in April 2006 this was disrupted by interethnic violence leaving the future of Sri Lanka in a balance. But one can only hope for the peace process for Sri Lanka will continue for the sake of its people and its beautiful land.