More Sri Lanka roads to be developed with ADB assistance
View(s):Plans are afoot to rehabilitate 7500 km of the road network including 700 national roads across the country. “We started the programme in most provinces except in the Uva, Eastern and the Northern Provinces which we hope to commence soon,” said the Director General of the External Resources Department of the Ministry of Finance, Priyantha Ratnayake addressing an Asian Development Bank (ADB) media conference held at Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel, at Galle recently.
Riding on a newly-paved road. Pic By M.A. Pushpa Kumara
He said apart from this project the ADB has shown interest in developing the light railway network in the country. “We have already started the light railway project from Battaramulla to Colombo Fort and six more sections to commence.”
The Director, External Resources said the government has invested heavily on roads and the transport sector during the past 5-6 years where US$8 billion alone had been invested in the transport sector across the country from assistance received from foreign development partners.
Of the total amount of $8 billion around $6 billion i.e. around 75 per cent have been invested in the road sector with $1.3 billion provided by the ADB. This money has already been spent which is a huge amount from the ADB to provide connectivity of rural roads to link with the national road network. The government’s vision is to improve the economic development of the rural communities by providing connectivity through the road network scattered across the country. “We want to ensure that connectivity of provincial and rural roads with the national roads for the smooth passage of goods and services. Everybody has now realized the economic benefits they derive from connectivity of the road network. The ADB has already provided assistance to the Southern Expressway and the Northern road development program and their contribution is huge. We thank the Sri Lanka Resident Mission (SLRM) – Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Director Ms. Sri Widowati for the assistance given to Sri Lanka,” he said.
Chairman of the Road Development Authority Nihal R. Sooriyarachchi said under the Southern Province road development project, 96.6 km of the road connecting Matara and Hambantota will be opened to the public this November. Apart from this ADB has given assistance for other Southern Provincial road network to be developed. “We are developing 53 km of road network in Galle area by awarding contracts to contractors in a transparent manner acceptable to ADB and the Finance Ministry. Once the roads are developed the contractors have to hand over them to the Road Development Authority. Another major project that we have undertaken is to develop with foreign funding the Galle, Madampe and Deniyaya roads that connect the Sabaragamuwa Province,” he added.
(JJ)