Special focus on road development:

'Better transport will uplift living standards'

Chaminda Perera

*National programme inaugurated

*Provincial road development long felt need

Better transport facilities help uplift villagers' living standards, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

He said the government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has laid special focus on the road development sector which had been neglected by successive governments.

Inaugurating the national programme to develop all provincial roads under the Sapiri Gamak - Supiri Hetak programme from the North Western Province, the Economic Development Minister added that development of all provincial roads was a long-felt need.

Laying of carpets on Makandura - Weralugama, Kandegedara - Yakwila and Paragammana - Maharagama road via Parakele road in the Kurunegala district and development of road from Wilaththawa-Deduru Oya in the Puttalam district were inaugurated by Minister Rajapaksa.

A stretch of 25 kilometres of provincial roads in every electorate will be carpeted under this project implemented by the Economic Development Ministry. The government has allocated Rs 22,000 million for the project through 2011 Budget.

Minister Rajapaksa said that development of a road impacts all aspects of the village economy and the life-style of rural people. The Minister said the road networks within villages were fully developed under the Maga Neguma programme while key roads belonging to the Highways Ministry were being widened and carpeted by the government.

He said that concreted roads can be seen in villages and all main roads have been widened and carpeted.

Rajapaksa said the provincial roads that connect villages with urban areas will be developed under this programme.

The minister added that the government has recognized the need of developing provincial roads which were not attended to by the authorities for a long time.

Minister Rajapaksa added that the government succeeded in resettling more than 84 percent of the displaced in the North. He added that these people have been given all facilities by the government.