HONG KONG: Some 20km north of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port, an extension to the country’s Southern Expressway lifts off the ground for a special purpose – to let wild elephants cross the highway safely.
The “elephant corridor”, an eco-friendly design recommended by the Chinese contractor, is one of the many examples that show how Chinese companies spare no efforts to protect the environment and preserve local ecology when constructing projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The expressway extension, which entered service in February, is significant for Sri Lanka as it connects the well-established port and airport of Colombo with the new port and airport of Hambantota.
The original plan for the extension project did not include a bridge. However, the realisation that the area was frequented by herds of elephants led the Chinese contractor to discuss eco-friendly alternatives with Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority.
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