Southern highway: victory of development war
The Southern highway is a result of noble willpower. An honourable
victory in the economic development war is assured with its opening,
said Prime Minister D M Jayaratne sending a message of greetings on the
occasion of bestowing the Southern highway to the nation tomorrow.
Following is the message:
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Prime
Minister
D M Jayaratne |
The main elements reckoned for overall economic development of a
country are health, education and infrastructure. In the infrastructure
sector, electricity, highway, irrigation and water supply are important,
but highway is considered as the most important. In the end of 1960s,
attempts were made to construct highways. That is with the construction
of international airport, Katunayake. But those attempts were not
fruitful due to various reasons. Again, attention was paid in the end of
1980s, but that too was not successful because problems regarding land
acquisition arose. Construction of Katunayake Highway started again in
the year 2000 but it was stopped halfway through during the period of
the United National Party government - 2002 to 2004. With the appearance
of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, construction work of Katunayake-Colombo
highway commenced and is in progress now. Although those experiences are
very unpleasant, President Mahinda Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone
to construct the Southern Highway amidst such challenges, displaying yet
another steady determination of his willpower. Accordingly, President,
then Prime Minister and Minister of Highways laid the foundation stone
for Southern Highway. Another important event took place on the same day
and that was the signing of his nomination papers for the presidential
election.
Southern Highway, that opens to the nation is a result of that noble
willpower. The journey upto now, when the first step of highway plan is
presented to the nation, has not been pleasant and rosy.
This task was undertaken whilst facing a brutal war on the one hand
and the accelerated development war on the other. Therefore, this giant
leap is a mirror that shows the future of the nation.
Although we have won over terrorism, now we are facing the economic
development war. An honourable victory in the economic development war
is assured with the opening of the Southern Highway.
I, on behalf of the entire nation, offer my heartiest thanks and
sincere gratitude for ministries and institutions led by the Ministry of
Ports and Highways that helped to make Southern Highway, a concept of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a reality.
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