Thanthirimale road to be reconstructed at a cost of Rs 375 m

Chula Bandara KULASEKERA

ANURADHAPURA: The road to Thanthirimale which has been neglected for the last 40 years is going to be reconstructed at a cost of Rs. 375 million.

This fact was revealed by Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle when he visited the Anuradhapura West Electorate last Friday in the company of NCP Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, W. A. Ekanayake, Duminda Dissanayake, and PC Minister H. M. Semasinghe.

Minister Fernandopulle instructed Roads Development Authority Chairman to take steps to commence the construction work within six months and implement the project leaving no room for any complaints.

He said that about 25 kilometres of this stretch of road will be macadamised under the Central Government in response to a request made by Highways Deputy Minister W. B. Ekanayake and that action will be taken to bring the road under the purview of the Central Government though presently it is under the North Central Provincial Council.

Officials who went to Thanthirimale spoke to the residents on their way to ascertain the people's problems and also observed the range of bunkers under construction within the Vilpattu Forest.

Ven. Thanthirimale Chandraratna Nayaka Thera, the Viharadhipathi of the Thanthirimale Raja Maha Viharaya highly appreciated the visit and said that the village of Thanthirimale was attacked by the terrorists on 42 occasions in the past and pointed out that due to lack of attention to road development, the area is experiencing an acute shortage of school teachers.

The Thera also lamented the low prices paid by private traders for the produce of the farmers in the area.