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:

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.