No room for Opposition to recreate situation before 2015 - Ranatunga

Minister of Transport Arjuna Ranatunga has said that the government will not leave room for the opposition to recreate the situation that existed before 2015.

He made these remarks following a protest that was held by a group of pradeshiya sabha members against him during the test-run on the new railway track from Matara to Beliatta today (Jan 06).

"I don't like to politicise this occasion since this project has been carried out using public funds. There is no point of worrying about the actions of these Pradeshiya Sabha mebers who have looted the people's money" Minister Ranatunga said. "I am here to serve the people and not these Pradeshiya Sabha members".

Commenting on the Matara-Beliatta project, Mr. Ranatunga said he expects the quick completion of the construction of railway signals along this track while adding that other arrangements to enable transportation along the track have been completed.

He added that the second phase of the railway project will be discussed within the Cabinet in future.

The newly constructed railway track from Matara to Beliatta is the first phase of a new railway track that is expected to run from Matara to Kataragama.

The track will be extended from Beliatta to Hambantota as the second phase while the third and final stage of the project would see a further extension of the track until Kataragama.