ROAD-READY NORTH

* Ninety percent road network rebuilt

* Colossal amount for railway, electricity projects

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The Ports and Highways Ministry has completed construction and reconstruction of 90 percent of highways and roads in the North and Eastern provinces since the end of the war, Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala said yesterday.

Meanwhile, International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister and Deputy Finance Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama said the government has set apart US $ 1,350 million for infrastructure development in the Northern Province to build railways and for electricity, highways, water supply and sanitation projects.

“This is the first time in history that such a colossal amount has been allocated to develop the Northern Province,” Amunugama said adding that the international community and Human Rights organisations are aware of these development activities in the North.

The government has stepped up action to develop the railway in the North with an expenditure of Rs 735 million, He said

Amunugama said a 90.5 kilometre rail track between Omanthai and Palaly will be reconstructed under the Northern Railway Development Programme. Vavuniya - Kankesanthurai rail track, Medawachchiya – Madu rail track and Madu-Thaleimannar rail track are also to be developed under the programme, he said.

Kothalawala said the highway development activities also entailed reconstruction of many bridges, destroyed by the LTTE.

He said the government has spent billions of rupees to construct the highways and bridges on the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“They had been built on the President’s concept that bridges and roads connect people and integrate them into the economic mainstream,” Kothalawala said.

He said the Highways Ministry has completed over 90 percent of the work on the A15 road , facilitating movement between Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts. The ministry has developed the Jaffna-Killinochci stretch and the Ottusudan-Mulaitive stretch along the A9 highway, he said.