UTE’s contribution to the development of Colombo – Katunayake Expressway

By Sara Pathirana

Sri Lanka's second express motorway, the Colombo Katunayake Expressway opens to public today fulfilling a long felt need.This project which has dragged on for many years was finally set in motion as an accelerated project and completed well in time for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.United Tractor & Equipment (Pvt., ) Ltd, the sole authorized dealer for Caterpillar Construction Machinery and Power Generator has supplied construction equipment for the Colombo Katunayake Expressway project.

As the pioneer in Sri Lanka’s construction machinery industry, UTE can undoubtedly boasts of providing Cat construction equipment to almost all the major construction projects in Sri Lanka, from the Gal Oya Project in 1947 to Colombo - Katunayake Expressway in 2013. Putting it chronologically, some of the major projects that UTE had become a part of, the biggest so far had been the Mahaveli Project.SamanalaWewa, Southern Highway,Colombo,Hambanthota and Oluvil Ports are among the others. In addition UTE has supplied power generators to some of the biggest buildings in the country such as the World Trade Centre,HNB Towers,JAIC Hilton towers as well as many other Five Star hotels in the country. Ongoing projects would include the extension of the Southern Expressway and Outer Circular Highway which will connect the Southern Highway to the Colombo Katunayake expressway bypassing the buzy Colombo Metropolis.

The rapid development Sri Lanka has experienced following the end of civil war is now well documented.Driven by experience and foresight UTE is well geared to face the challenging task of meeting today's construction sector needs.

Caterpillar,the world's number one Construction equipment and Engine manufacterer has been a tower of strength, supporting UTE to be one of the most dynamic Cat dealers in the region.

"Cat construction equipment supplied by UTE and our product support services played a huge role during the construction of Colombo-Katunayake highway and we are proud to have been a part of the Gateway to Sri Lanka”, commenting about the project JanakEdirisinghe, GM-Machine Sales and Equipment Rental said.

“Furthermore alarge number of CAT construction machinery has been supplied to the ongoing Outer Circular Highway (OCH) project.With future development projects such as widely anticipated Colombo-Kandy Highway project in the horizon UTE is very optimistic about the future of Sri Lanka's Construction Industry",Mr.Edirisinghe further added.

UTE’s product portfolio includes construction equipment such as Cat Excavators and Backhoe Loaders, which are utilised for the preliminary stages of many construction projects, Cat Power Generators, Material Handling Equipment such as Forklifts and Welding equipment are all essential products for projects of this magnitude.

Reiterating UTE’s commitment to its customers Mr. Janak Edirisinghe had this to say,"UTE also provides product support, which means that we look for that long-term relationships with the customer, hence our tagline; The Journey Continues….Long After the Sale"