Trinco-Sampur circular road construction expedited

COLOMBO: On the instructions of the President a high powered team including several Ministers led by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa inspected construction work on the Trincomalee - Sampur circular road launched under the Jathika Saviya programme recently. The road undertaken concurrently with the Industrial city built near Trincomalee harbour as part of infrastructure development has now been completed almost half way.

A press release issued by the Presidential Secretariat states that the construction work of this road has been undertaken with the support of the Sri Lanka Army Engineering Regiment with technical consultancy service and machinery supplied by the RDA.

The team which included Minister Risath Bathiyutheen, Amir Ali and Bazeer Zegudawood, Eastern Navodaya Advisor and Former IGP Chandra Fernando, Batticaloa GA Arunga Nayagam and the East Security Forces Commander also visited the Pachchanur Army camp and inquired after the welfare of servicemen there.

Thereafter they visited Kantalai and inspected the Raja Ela rehabilitation scheme. Since the Mavil Aru anicut was liberated from the LTTE an environment has been created for farmers in the area to engage in their agricultural activities without fear.

But 5,000 acres of paddy lands were left idle for over 5 years due to the damage of the Raja Ela and failure of the authorities to repair the damage. On the directives of the President steps have now been taken to repair and rehabilitate the 16 km Raja Ela within three months at a cost of Rs. 200 million.

Basil Rajapaksa said once rehabilitation work of the Raja Ela is completed it will bring direct benefits to farmers in a wide area including Alla, Kantalai and Sampur. He said step will also be taken under the Jathika Saviya programme to solve the irrigation problem of farmers in Neelapola, Kantalai as well.