President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the Southern expressway this morning.

The country's first expressway, E 01 is linking Colombo and Galle.

Separatist tendencies will fade away when when we have better road connectivity, President said addressing the opening ceremony.

"There will be a revolution in road construction," President said adding that the government is planning to construct another expressway linking Colombo and Jaffna.

The 96-km expressway is funded by ADB and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The expressway will be open to the public from 6 pm today. The toll for the entire length of journey for a car will be Rs. 400.00. The four-lane highway constructed at a cost of Rs. 70 billion has eight entry points at Kahatuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodamgoda, Welipenna, Krudugaha Hathakma, Baddegama and Pinnaduwa.

The maximum speed on the expressway is at 100 km per hour enabling motorists to reach Galle in an hour.

A separate Police Units consisting STF personnel has been established for traffic control.

With the opening of expressway, the government is planning to develop eight new townships along the road where entry/exist points of the expressway are located.

The second phase of the expressway will be extended to Matara and the segment from Galle to Matara will be open in 2013.