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Distorting figures and presenting them out of context is a well-established tactic in online misinformation. A post circulated on Sri Lankan social media comparing the construction costs of the Southern Expressway and the Rambukkana-Galagedara section of the Central Expressway, presenting figures that appeared to show the current government spending almost double what previous governments spent per kilometer. Below is our fact-check of those claims.
Social Media Posts :
A chart circulated on social media stating that 107 km of the Southern Expressway cost Rs.70 billion, while 8 km of the Central Expressway’s Galagedara section cost Rs.113 billion.
The same post also circulated with the caption “Is this really part of a highway?”, questioning whether the Rambukkana to Galagedara section qualifies as an expressway at all: Facebook Facebook Facebook
We investigated the truth of these claims.
Fact-Check :
The construction of the Rambukkana to Galagedara expressway section was officially reported on the government news website on 29 May 2026. It is clearly stated that the 18.7 km section from Rambukkana to Galagedara is being developed under the second phase of Section 3 of the Central Expressway, and that it will have four lanes. News.lk | Archived Link. Further reports are available here and here.
Rambukkana-Galagedara Expressway Section
| Expressway Section | Rambukkana to Galagedara |
|---|---|
| Total distance | 18.7 km (chain points Ch. 13+800 to Ch. 32+450) |
| Total estimated cost | Rs.112.4 billion (Rs.112,400,000,000) |
| Funding | 100% local government funds (no foreign loans) |
| Construction method | National competitive procurement among local contractors |
| Expected duration | Construction planned to be completed within 3.5 years |
Further details are available here.
The distance of the Rambukkana-Galagedara section is not 8 km as stated in the social media posts but 18.7 km. The estimated cost is Rs.112.4 billion. The cost per kilometer (112.4 ÷ 18.7) works out to Rs.6.01 billion, or Rs.601 crore per km.
The social media posts used 8 km instead of 18.7 km, which inflated the apparent per-kilometer cost to Rs.14.12 billion (113 ÷ 8), or Rs.1,412.5 crore, nearly double the actual figure.
Southern Expressway
We also verified the total length and cost of the Southern Expressway. Official Cabinet reports on its construction are available here and here.
The 2020 parliamentary report on construction costs for each section is available here. National Audit Office reports are available here and here.
Coordinating Secretary : Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena
We contacted the Coordinating Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Transport, Prasanna Gunasena. He shared an official document on the revenue and expenditure of all expressways as of May 2026 and confirmed that the figures being shared on social media are misleading.
The document confirms that the total distance of the eight completed sections of the Southern Expressway (Kottawa to Hambantota) is 227.1 km, with total construction costs of approximately Rs.340.23 billion. The data is cross-checked with media reports and found largely consistent, with a minor discrepancy in the Pinnaduwa-Godagama section (listed as 35.8 km here, versus 30 km in most media reports). The information is set out below.
Expressway Sections by Government and Year
Since both expressways were built in phases over several years under different governments, attributing per-kilometer cost to a single government is misleading. Based on the official government cost register (May 2026), cross-checked with Auditor General reports and Parliamentary/COPE reports, the following tables show each section with its government, year, funding source, and per-km cost.
Southern Expressway (E01)
| Section | Distance (km) | Cost (Rs.Bn) | Cost per km (Rs. Mn) | Funding / Government / Year Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kottawa–Pinnaduwa (STDP 1–3) | 95.30 | 87.00 | 91.30 | JICA/ADB · Opened under Mahinda Rajapaksa, 2011 |
| Pinnaduwa–Matara (STDP 4) | 35.80 | 14.24 | 39.80 | China Exim Bank · Opened under Mahinda Rajapaksa, 2014 |
| Matara–Beliatta (ESEP I) | 30.00 | 122.00 | 406.70 | China Exim Bank · Constructed 2015–2020, opened under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 2020 |
| Beliatta–Wetiya (ESEP II) | 26.00 | 46.00 | 176.90 | China Exim Bank · Opened under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 2020 |
| Wetiya–Andarawaewa (ESEP III) | 15.00 | 29.00 | 193.30 | China Exim Bank · Opened under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 2020 |
| Mattala–Hambantota (ESEP IV) | 25.00 | 42.00 | 168.00 | China Exim Bank · Opened under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 2020 |
| Total Southern Expressway | 227.10 | 340.23 | 149.82 |
Central Expressway (E04)
| Section | Distance (km) | Cost (Rs.Bn) | Cost per km (Rs. Mn) | Funding / Status / Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadawatha–Mirigama (Section I) Original estimate ~Rs.70 billion. Increased to Rs.176.8 billion (2023 AG Report) and Rs.229.5 billion by 2025 due to delays and revisions. | 37.00 | 229.53 (est.) | ~620 | China Exim Bank + Domestic · Commenced 2015, multiple governments, expected completion 2028 |
| Mirigama–Kurunegala (Section II) | 39.20 | 142.00 | 362.20 | Domestic · Opened under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 2022 |
| Potuhera–Rambukkana (Section III-1) | 13.80 | 78.00 (est.) | ~565 | Domestic · Under construction (expected 2027) |
| Rambukkana–Galagedara (Section III-2) | 18.70 | 112.40 (est.) | 601.07 | Domestic · Current NPP government |
| Kurunegala–Dambulla (Section IV) | 60.30 | Not yet commenced | — | Planning stage |
In addition, the Kadawatha-Kerawalapitiya section of the Outer Ring Road is notable: its construction contract was awarded under Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2013, construction began in 2014, and it opened in 2019. Its 9.6 km cost Rs.66.5 billion, giving a per-km cost of Rs.693 crore. The main factor was the requirement to build over marshy land.
NB: This calculation is based on estimated costs as sections of the Central Expressway are still under construction. Sections marked in red may cost more on completion.
How Costs Have Changed Over the Years
Southern Expressway: The original flat-terrain sections built during the Mahinda Rajapaksa era cost Rs.40–91 crore per km. The extension sections (ESEP) built from 2015 to 2020 averaged around Rs.249 crore per km , nearly three times more. The Matara-Beliatta extension alone cost Rs.407 crore per km, demonstrating that costs on the same highway increased significantly over time.
Central Expressway: The Mirigama-Kurunegala section, opened under Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, cost Rs.362 crore per km. The mountainous Potuhera-Rambukkana section is estimated at Rs.565 crore per km, and the Rambukkana-Galagedara section at around Rs.601 crore per km. The Kadawatha-Mirigama section, whose original estimate was Rs.70 billion, has risen to Rs.229 billion due to years of delays, bringing its per-km cost to around Rs.620 crore.
Overall: Across all expressways, the per-km cost ranges from Rs.40 crore to Rs.693 crore. The highest-value sections are the Kadawatha-Kerawalapitiya section of the Outer Ring Road (Rs.693 crore, awarded in 2013 under Mahinda Rajapaksa), the Kadawatha-Mirigama section of the Central Expressway (Rs.620 crore), and the current Rambukkana-Galagedara section (Rs.601 crore). The per-km cost is determined not by which party is in power but primarily by several factors such as geography (mountains versus flatlands versus marshy terrain), the year of construction (inflation and rupee depreciation), and the financing method (concessional foreign loans versus local funds).
Road Development Authority (RDA)
We also contacted the Chief Engineer of the Project Office for Section 3 of the Central Expressway under the Road Development Authority. He stated clearly that neither of the two expressways can be directly compared to each other.
The Southern Expressway runs across flat terrain with no mountain slopes. The Central Expressway runs through mountainous terrain with substantially different geographical conditions. This is one reason the per-km construction cost of the Central Expressway is higher. The geographical differences also require different engineering methodologies for each highway.
He further noted that the Southern Expressway was built many years ago, and the current value of the rupee relative to that period is another reason for the relatively higher per-km cost of the Central Expressway.
He also confirmed that the claim circulating on social media that the Rambukkana-Galagedara section is not part of the Central Expressway and is merely an A-grade two-lane road is completely false.
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Conclusion :
Our investigation confirms that the social media posts comparing the construction costs of the Southern Expressway and the Central Expressway’s Rambukkana-Galagedara section are misleading. The primary manipulation was using 8 km instead of the actual 18.7 km, which made the apparent per-km cost appear more than double the real figure. The claim that the Rambukkana-Galagedara section is not part of the Central Expressway is also false.
Both expressways were built in phases over many years under different governments. The per-km cost ranges from Rs.40 crore to Rs.693 crore depending on geography, year of construction, and financing method. The highest per-km sections are the Kadawatha-Kerawalapitiya Outer Ring Road section (Rs.693 crore, awarded in 2013), the Kadawatha-Mirigama Central Expressway section (Rs.620 crore), and the current Rambukkana-Galagedara section (Rs.601 crore). Per-km costs are driven by terrain, rupee depreciation over time, and loan terms – not by which government is building.
Title: Misleading Posts About Expressway Construction Costs: Fin out What the Official Data Actually Shows!
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo Team
Result: Misleading
