Sri Lanka has completed 45% of the outer circular highway outside the capital Colombo.

The 28km four lane highway starts from Kerawalapitiya along the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway to link Southern Expressway, crossing the A4 highway at Kottawa and the main A1 Colombo-Kandy highway at Kadawatha.

The project will provide quick access to the Southern Expressway and the Colombo-Katunayake highway, while reducing congestion in Colombo city by providing a circular beltway.

The Japanese government has provided $630m to complete the stretch of road from Kottawa to Kaduwela and Kadawatha.

Construction of the next phase is expected to start by the end of 2011 and the project is due to open in 2014, according to colombopage.com