President orders officials to expedite Southern Express way

President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the officials of the Highways and Road Development Ministry to expedite the construction of the Southern Expressway with urgent attention given to replacing the bridges that were sub-standard at a progress review meeting at Temple Trees.

Representatives of the contracting companies also attended the meeting and the President directed that though the necessary consultancy services were provided more attention needed to be paid by the Ministry on this project a press release from the Presidential Secretariat said yesterday.

President Rajapaksa also pointed out that considerable amount of funds were spent on repairs and rehabilitation of roads annually but it was important to obtain community participation to ensure that such projects were completed successfully the release also said.

The largest quantum of funds ever i.e. Rs. 77.128 million had been allocated for roads in the current year and much progress had been achieved in building new bridges and roads and 1,250 kilometers of roads in the North were being built at a cost of US$ 772 million, it was reported at the meeting.

Minister T.B. Ekanayaka Deputy Minister W.B. Ekanayaka and senior officials including Ministry Secretary Admiral Vasantha Karannagoda were present at the meeting, the release said.