PICTORIAL A section of the 1,000 drummers President opens who performed on the occasion ‘Gateway to Wonder’ resident Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially opened Sri Lanka’s first access controlled Expressway - the Southern Expressway, the P ‘Gateway to Wonder’- constructed at a cost of Rs 70 billion yesterday. The President who drove his own vehicle all through his journey participated in a public meeting attended by thousands of people at Karandeniya. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa MP,Yoshitha Rajapaksa and other delegates including Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi, were also present on the occasion. Here are pictures of this historic event. Members of the Maha Sangha conducting religious observances President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa with Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Gamini Lokuge and other officials on arrival. President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing People showing their gratitude to the President the gathering President Rajapaksa and representative of the government of Japan on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruc- tion in Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi. Pictures by Sudath Silva, Sudath Malaweera, Sulochana Gamage and Nissanka Wijeratne President Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne and government of Japan representative on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi A section of the massive crowd present on the occasion President Mahinda Rajapaksa travelling along the Expressway, driving his vehicle accompa- nied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, and two sons Namal Rajapaksa, MP and Yoshitha Schoolgirls waving national flags and being part of this momentous day Rajapaksa. A section of the diplomatic community =.