Proper road network essential for development - President
The Highways Ministry has to play a major role to fulfill the hopes
and aspirations of the people by making the development program a
reality, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa presiding over a special
conference held at the Highways Ministry yesterday.
The President said the maintenance of a proper road network is most
essential to carryout the development program in an efficient manner to
deliver the fruits of development to the people.
At this conference which focused on the activities of the ministry
during the past six years and its future plans, the President said the
government had made the biggest allocation of Rs 102 billion to the
Highways Ministry in the past. Such a big allocation was made with the
sole intention of providing an efficient and systematic road network and
thereby improve community life.
Therefore officials should dedicate themselves to ensure the highest
dividends to the people.
A press release by the President’s Media Division said officials
attending the discussion pointed out that although the target of the
Maga Neguma road development project was to complete 720km of roads they
had been able to exceed the target to 855 km.
It was also pointed out that a major part of the Matara-Colombo
Expressway was already complete and the entire expressway could be
opened for the public by June this year. Nearly 30 percent of the
Katunayake- Colombo expressway was also complete and it would be
possible to complete the entire expressway by the end of 2012. The work
on the Highways Secretariat which started last year was complete upto
three levels and the entire building would be ready for opening by the
end of this year.
The President also directed officials to complete the construction
and rehabilitation of roads in the areas where the world cup cricket
matches are due to be held soon to facilitate local and foreign tourists
expected during the world cup season.
The President also noted that the country’s transport service should
also be extended with the extension of the road network.
Deputy Ministers Nirmala Kotalawala and Rohitha Abeygunawardena and
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga also attended the
conference. |