Protest not to halt road development project in Monaragala

Members of  some 320 families today (26) staged a protest in an estate in Monaragala demanding that the government does not call off a proposed road development project leading to the estates in the area.

They were objecting to construction officials halting construction work on the Monaragala Geelon Road, which is being renovated with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

Residents living in Maragala and Kumarawatta estates gathered near Sri Kadireshan Devalaya in Kumarawatta estate and engaged in a peaceful protest.

Residents of the area took steps to prevent the machinery brought by the construction company being removed.

This was after the Monaragala District Secretary instructing the company to suspend the construction of the road at the request of the environmental organisations.

Chairman of the Monaragala District Coordinating Committee, MP Kumarasiri Ratnayake said, “a decision on this issue will be taken after a discussion with the residents of the area and the project officers at the Monaragala District Secretariat on Saturday.”

Residents of the area protesting near the Sri Kadireshan Devalaya (Pix by Monaragala Sumanasiri Gunathilake)