Qualitative improvement in road network

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Highways and Rural Development Minister T B Ekanayake in an interview with Malik Chaminda Dharmawardene states that the Government is not afraid to face elections. The UNP postponed elections through a maligned referendum because it feared elections

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The Nugegoda flyover was vested in the people on January 23. Shall we first delve on this flyover project concept to open up our discussion?

The decision to build the Nugegoda flyover was taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa following the observations made by him during an on the spot inspection tour while he was Minister of Highways. We have started on with many other flyovers such as Kelaniya, Orugodawatta and Pannipitiya.

The Nugegoda flyover will provide a solution to the traffic congestion which existed there. The flyover had cost Rs. 890 million. Another Rs. 390 million has been paid as compensation towards land and buildings acquired to make way for the flyover. We have paid compensation even against unauthorized buildings.

Flyovers will also be built at Dehiwala, Kohuwala and Panadura as well as Polgahawela and Mahawa junction.

This shows that this project is being implemented in outstations without being restricted to Colombo only.

Only one section of the Nugegoda flyover was open on January 23. The other section will be open later. Is the Government providing these facilities in stages to gain cheap publicity?

This flyover could have been open after its full completion.

If we started work on all four lanes we would have had to close the road entirely; causing inconvenience to the public. It is to prevent such unnecessary inconvenience that we are building it in stages. On the day I laid the foundation stone I said the flyover would be open on January 30. But we have opened it before schedule on January 23. This speaks for the efficiency of the Ministry.

If we wanted cheap publicity we could have given it wide coverage. But we only held a simple opening ceremony with the participation of Ministers, Parliamentarians and Provincial and local councilors in the area.

Now there is a project for concreting roads. But a common complaint on political platforms is that these roads get damaged with the concrete layer peeling off.

The concreting project was started when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was Prime Minister and Highways Minister. The Highways Ministry maintained only 11,600 km of ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade roads. Rural roads had not been touched for the last 50 years. But Mahinda Rajapaksa launched the rehabilitation of rural roads through the ‘Maga Neguma’ project. Accordingly concreting of village roads coming under the purview of all Pradeshiya Sahbas has started.

Concreting is a successful method especially in countries like Sri Lanka. There is less erosion in hilly areas. Last year alone we have provided Rs. 38 million to each and every Pradeshiya Sabha for concreting their roads. The payment report of a concrete road is supplied by technicians and engineers. Politicians have no say in it. The ministry made payments going by the report submitted by the technicians and engineers. There is no damage caused because engineers and technicians attached to ‘Maga Neguma’ make fields surveys. These projects have been 100 per cent successful. If there are any problems we will look into them.

The world economic meltdown may adversely affect our economy too according to certain economists. Why is the Government trying to heap additional burdens on the people by holding election at a time of crisis?

First of all I would say that our Government is not afraid of elections. The UNP postponed elections by holding referendums. People know how corrupt such referendums had been. We are holding elections because we are not afraid to go before the people.

When you consider the current Provincial Council elections people in those areas don’t have much economic problems.

Wayamba covered 14 electorates and people in these areas have experienced bumper harvests. Nearly 4,000 tanks have been rehabilitated. A large extent of land is under cultivation. People get a good price for their produce.

The economic standards of farmers have improved. People in Wayamba do not encounter economic difficulties. People who do not work only encounter economic hardship. Things such as the world economic crisis and closure of American banks do not affect people of Wayamba who have achieved self sufficiency.

There is an allegation that fearing future challenges the Government had advanced elections which it was trying to win by silencing the media.

This is a time the Government has been strengthened, with a section of the JVP too. The opposition is very weak and there is no need for the Government to suppress the media.

By Media suppression you are trying to imply the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunge and the attack on Sirasa TV. We have clearly stated that the conspiracy behind these two incidents would be revealed. Before long we will be able to give answers to them and the people would be able to know the real culprits.

When we started the humanitarian operations in the North, cynics said India would interfere and stop it. But it did not happen. India too wants us to apprehend the LTTE. The international media too have paid attention on Sri Lanka in a positive manner. Under such a situation we don’t need to suppress the media or fear facing elections.

Today we hear of crossovers through the media. Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella alleged these were only political gimmicks and the 5,000 who joined the UPFA in central province were only SLFPers dressed in green shirts and caps.

Let us leave the 5,000 out. Apart from this 19 UNP Pradeshiya Sabha members in the central province have joined hands with us. A large number of their followers too joined our party. UNPers are flocking round us in large numbers.

This is evident when you visit any village. Former Opposition UNP leader of the Wayamba Provincial Council Asoka Wadigamangawa joined us before the elections were announced.

Former minister S B Abeyratne and D M Bandaranayake have also joined the SLFP. In my electorate both UNP organizers have crossed over to the SLFP. This was much before the climax of the election campaign.

There will be more crossovers as election is getting closer because people are pleased with the Forces’ achievements. A large number of war heroes hail from the Kurunegala district when the operations are conducted successfully under a proper leadership it is natural for people to express their solidarity with the government.