 March 2014 saw the section from Galle to Matara being declared open to the public.The construction of the expressway was partly funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, who were responsible for the section between Kurundugahahetekma and Kokmaduwa, and the Asian Development Bank, responsible for the section between Kurundugahahetekma and Pinnaduwa.The expressway reduces the time taken to travel from Colombo to Galle () to one hour from three hours, and Colombo to Matara () to one and a half hours from four hours taken by the regular A2 highway.