The second phase of the Southern Expressway (E01) from Pinnaduwa in Galle to Godagama in Matara was declared opened on 15 March 2014. With the opening of the second phase, the 126 km (78 mi) long highway will link Colombo with Matara.

The expressway will reduce the time taken to travel from Colombo to Matara (161 km) to one and a half hours from the current four hours, and currently reduces the time taken to travel from Colombo to Galle (116 km) to one hour from the three hours taken by the regular Colombo-Matara highway.

This stretch of the highway will also have the same features the first section of the road from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa and there will be three interchanges to connect the main cities in the south with this highway.

The maximum operating speed for this section is 100 km per hr. At Kottawa Interchange this Southern Expressway connects with Outer Circular Highway  E02 to Kadawatha.

It is expected to extend the Southern Expressway from Matara to Hambantota with the intention of linking Mattala Airport and Hambantota Harbour to the Commercial Capital, Colombo in future.

Major exits (Interchanges) of Southern Highway:

Exit 1 at Kottawa
A-004 – Kottawa (1.8 km), Maharagama (6.3 km), Nugegoda (11.3 km), Colombo (20.6 km), Ratnapura (79.1 km), Avissawella (37 km), Homagama (2.2 km). The start of the expressway; a continuation of the Outer Circular Highway E02.

Exit 2 at Kahatuduwa (5.9 km) B-084 – Kasbawa (5.8 km), Piliyandala (8.1 km), Colombo (25.7 km), Horana (12.3 km), Ingiriya (25.9 km), Ratnapura (63.5 km)

Exit 3 at Gelanigama (13.7 km) A-008 – Bandaragama (1.8 km), Panadura (11.6 km), Horana (6.9 km), Ingiriya (20.4 km), Ratnapura (58.1 km)

Exit 4 at Dodangoda (34.8 km) B-304 – Nagoda (11.5 km), Kalutara (17.0 km), Matugama (5.5 km), Agalawaththa (11.3 km)

Exit 5 Welipanna (46.0 km) B-157 – Aluthgama (10.3 km), Matugama (11.5 km), Agalawaththa (17.5 km)

Exit 6 Kurundugahahetekma (67.6 km) B-014 – Elpitiya (3.8 km), Karandeniya (6.0 km), Batapola (7.0 km), Ambalangoda (13.2 km), Balapitiya (13.5 km)

Exit 7 Baddegama (79.8 km) B-153 – Baddegama (1.5 km), Hikkaduwa (12.8 km), Nil Hena (2.4 km), Udugama (20.8 km)

Exit 8 Pinnaduwa

Pinnaduwa (95.3 km) B-594 – Galle (8.4 km) Contains the 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) Galle

Exit 9  Imaduwa – connect to Galle-Akuressa Road.

Exit 10 Kokmaduwa – connect to Weligama-Kananke Road.

Exit 11 Godagama – connect to Matara via Akuressa-Matara Road.

Drive from Colombo to Matara along Southern Expressway

Southern Highway Sri Lanka Map

For more details visit RDA Road Development Authority  Expressway Website site:
http://www.exway.rda.gov.lk/index.php?page=expressway_network/e01

Tariff Schedule – How much you need to pay?

Southern-Expressway-E01-tariff-schedule for Vehicles from Kaduwela to Godagama on E01 Highway:
http://www.exway.rda.gov.lk/index.php?page=expressway_network/e02/tariff_schedule

Highway and Expressway Road Network Map of Sri Lanka by Road Development Authority