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Flood-hit roads to be repaired

by Rajmi Manatunga

The Highways Ministry has taken steps to repair roads in the flood affected areas to facilitate the immediate restoration of transport services. A spokesman for the Ministry told the Daily News that officials have already been sent to areas like Galle, Matara, Ratnapura and Kalutara to observe the situation and estimate the damage caused to the highways by floods.

Many roads in Hambantota, Ratnapura and Kalutara districts have been submerged by flood waters and obstructed by mudslides bringing transport services to a standstill. The Colombo-Kataragama highway and the Matara-Deniyaya road have been affected by floods at several places. Vehicles travelling from those areas have been directed to use alternative routes.

"Steps have also been taken to close the Akuressa-Deniyaya road on warnings that an earthslip is likely to occur in a six acre area in the Akuressa forest reserve. The residents have already been evacuated," he said.

Chairmen of the Road Development Authority (RDA) and the Road Construction and Development Corporation (RCDC) who visited the affected areas have given directives to commence reconstruction once the floods recede.

"There is little we can do before the water level comes down. Till then people will have to use alternatives routes," he said.

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