Govt revamps A2, A4 and A23

Irangika RANGE

Road development in the Uva-Wellassa region has received a boost with the total budget allocation exceeding nearly Rs 4,000 million.

Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala said three main roads A2 (Colombo-Wellawaya via Hambantota), A4 (Colombo-Batticaloa via Ratnapura) and A23 (Wellawaya-Kumbalwela road via Ella) have been widened and carpeted. This move will further flourish the tourism industry while enabling farmers in Uva-Wellassa to transport agricultural products swiftly to markets in towns. He said that as the Ports and Highways Minister, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed authorities to develop the roads in the Uva Wellassa region which is well-known for its scenic beauty, favourable climate, cultural values and ancient history.

Many roads leading to Moneragala have already being widened and carpeted to create a superior road network.

The Deputy Minister said the Government has carried out massive road development projects in Uva-Wellassa which has made the region closer to Colombo with a superior carpeted road network. The focus was on Buttala and the a number of road development projects were carried out in Buttala and the surrounding areas, parallel to the Deyata Kirula exhibition site, the Deputy Minister said.

He said the Government will not confine development activities to one area of the country.

"Development activities will begin in all areas ensuring the dividends of country's development will reach masses equally. That is why priority was given to road development in the region hand-in-hand with the Deyata Kirula exhibition," he said. The five kilometer stretch of road within the exhibition premises had been developed spending Rs 150 million.

In addition many roads in the Uva-Wellassa region have been constructed and renovated under the special road development project launched for the Deyata Kirula exhibition.

A nine kilometer stretch on the Buttala-Elagama via Dematamal Viharaya road (B522) was widened and carpeted at a cost of Rs 450 million. The Udawalawa-Tanamalwila road (40km) was constructed at a cost of Rs 800 million under road development initiatives.