Road development:

Maga Neguma gets priority

*President says he had received reports that construction activities had taken place without meeting proper standards

*Maga Neguma has a big role to play in satisfying the aspirations of the people

President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed Finance Ministry and Highways Development Ministry Secretaries to give priority to the Maga Neguma program when implementing islandwide road development projects.

The President gave these instructions when the Board of Directors of Maga Neguma program met him to submit the progress reports of Maga Neguma at Temple Trees.

The President said he had received reports that construction activities had taken place without meeting proper standards and far below the value of the cost incurred on road development projects.

The President said he had taken this decision to overcome this problem.

President Rajapaksa said Maga Neguma has a big role to play in satisfying the aspirations of the people released from LTTE terrorism and stressed that Maga Neguma - an institution under the Government - should pay more attention than private contractors in the task of implementing quality based construction activities.

Maga Neguma Chairman Jaliya Goonesekera, giving details of its activities, progress and problems faced during the past 18 months, said this institution recorded a profit during the 2008 and 2009 period and added that Maga Neguma had handled projects worth Rs. 2,042 million last year.

President Rajapaksa instructed Lanka Puthra Bank to support activities of the Maga Neguma programs. The President also stressed that all parties should work with dedication to enable the people to reap the benefits of these activities especially in the context where the Government is spending heavily for massive development projects in the North.

The damage caused by the terrorists in the North during the past three decades is enormous and the Government has a huge responsibility to rebuild the livelihood of these people while reconstructing these vastly damaged resources there, President Rajapaksa said. There is unique progress in the road development activities during the fast three years.

“There are concreted roads in every village.

“Bridges and highways have come up all over under this Government.

“No other government has done so much,” the President said.

Minister Rohitha Bogallagama, Highways Ministry Secretary S. Amarasekara, Maga Neguma Chairman Jaliya Goonesekera and members of Board of Directors were also present.