Sri Lanka, June 21 -- Leader of the House and Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Ratnayake stated in Parliament yesterday that the Southern Expressway, the country's first expressway, had been subject to various malpractices and politically motivated decisions during its early stages.

Responding to a question raised by SLPP Kalutara District MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena regarding the interchanges along the Southern Expressway, Minister Ratnayake alleged that the expressway's original design and feasibility studies were compromised due to undue political influence.

He revealed that there is only one designated rest area on the Southern Expressway, which had been leased for 99 years at a nominal rate of Rs.10,000. ...