News
Johnston centre-closes new extradosed bridge over Kelani river
In 2014, the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Highways had initiated the New Kelani Bridge project and signed for the plans and the approval, Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando said, following the centre-closure of the new Kelani Bridge, which is an engineering design known as extradosed type, which uses stay cables to connect two main pylons with the bridge deck and to share weight of the loads from the bridge deck.
In his recent address to the nation, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa mentioned that we would complete this project soon, said Minister Fernando, adding that the former Highways Minister of the Yahapalana government had claimed that it was a project that had been commenced by the previous administration. “The truth is that the highest number of mega development projects in this country commenced under the visionary leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He deserves the credit for that. Others cannot take the credit because people know the truth. I still can remember how President Rajapaksa started the Outer Circle Highway Project. Later, the ministers of the yahapalana government tried to get credit for that and were planning to open a section of it but a woman opened it.
“We are going to complete the work of this new Kelani Bridge within three months and hope that it could be commissioned in the first week of September. At a time when the entire world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, engineers of Japan and this country with other officials rendered a yeoman service to make this project a success. They took an enormous risk by doing so. This grateful nation will never forget their dedication and in the years to come people will talk of their dedication.
“We would not suspend any development project because of difficulties or the pandemic. One of the biggest mistakes committed by the yahapalana government was trying to take credit for development projects initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They suspended some projects citing various reasons because they had no capacity nor caliber to carry on such mega development projects that had been envisioned for the use of the people for the next century. The first such project that they had stopped was the Port City Development project. This project too had been delayed citing various reasons. Otherwise this would have been completed by this time and people would have been using this bridge.
“Some Opposition members blame us, claiming that we could work only with China. We work not only with China but also with Japan and the UK. We are working with many nations other than China and this bridge came into being with the assistance of Japanese engineering technology as an example for that. Various countries have come forward to assist our development process and invest here. Those who criticize us have only a single objective of sabotaging our work. People would not fall for their trap.
“We are a government that will not hesitate to act for the sake of the development of this country. We are not afraid of critics. We are not afraid of Opposition tactics. None with an iota of intelligence would participate in protests or lead their people to protests at a time like this knowing it’s dangerous to expose them to the pandemic. Unfortunately, we have Opposition politicians who do so. Those who predicted that at least one or two thousand people will die here of COVID-19 finally got infected. We call on them not to put the lives of people in harm’s way to achieve their political objectives. You will never be able to escape from the curse of the people by using them as a cat’s paw to cover up their political bankruptcy.
Saturday’s event – the centre-closure of the extra dozed bridge marks the conclusion of the concrete casting of the new bridge.
With the opening of the new Kelani Bridge, the Colombo-Katunayake expressway would connect the capital to the country’s main international airport with a six-lane road and further link the elevated highway to Aturugiriya and the port-elevated highway to the Port City. The new bridge is 380 meters long and has been constructed in two phases – the first phase covering the steel construction of the bridge has cost Rs 31,539 million while cost of the second phase of casting concrete deck of the bridge is Rs 9,896 million.
Among those present were Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka, Yamada Tetsuya, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways RWR Pemasiri, Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure Prof Ranjtih Dissanayake, Chairman of RDA, Chaminda Athuluwage, Working Director Chaminda Basnayake, Director General of RDA Sardha Weerakoon, Project Director Darshika Jayasekera and other officials.
Interdicted Deputy Director at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka (NHSL) Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (29) alleged that the powers that be moved against him for seeking the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) investigation into a massive fraud at the NHSL laboratory.
Dr. Bellana said so in response to The Island query regarding the circumstances the Health Ministry interdicted him on 18 December, through a letter, as directed by the Health Committee of the Public Service (PSC) Commission. “That letter has been signed by an Additional Secretary, as Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe was overseas,” Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana stated that the government had paid for reagents, contaminated or close to expiry dates, obtained from a leading local medical supplier, since 2022. He emphasised that his complaint to the CIABOC, and subsequent complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were entirely based on the issues raised by the National Audit Office (NAO).
Responding to another query, Dr. Bellana said that the public funds, amounting to Rs. 900 mn, had been spent on chemical reagents past expiry dates. Regardless of the intervention made by the NAO, the NHSL continued to procure supplies from the same company, Dr. Bellana said, adding that he had received the unconditional support of the civil society. Among them were Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), President of Academy of Health Professionals Ravi Kumudesh, and leader of Mage Rata Sanjaya Mahawatta.
Dr. Bellana said that he had complained about the scam to the CIABOC in June this year.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, who also lodged a complaint with CIABOC, regarding the same matter, is on record as having said in September this year that the reagents had been procured over a three-year period without the proper approval of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry. Dr. Sanjeewa has alleged that some of the reagents were either contaminated or close to expiry dates, while contracts had been given to a single company at unapproved prices.
Dr. Bellana said that had there been a proper system for CIABOC and law enforcement authorities to act on findings made by the NAO they wouldn’t have personally intervened in the NHSL laboratory matter. “Parliament should look into this. Did Parliament take up the NHSL laboratory matter at the relevant watchdog committee or at the Sectoral Oversight Committee that handled health?” Dr. Bellana asked.
Asked whether the letter that informed him of his interdiction gave any specific reason for the action taken, Dr. Bellana said the Ministry had found fault with him for speaking to the media. The irate ex-official said that he never hesitated to take a stand against injustice. “When former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was accused of corruption, pertaining to medical procurement, I condemned the Minister. Lambasted those responsible for wrongdoings.”
Dr. Bellana said that the NAO had dealt with mega crime involving the public and private sector. “That is the undeniable truth. Parliament should look into this as public money is its responsibility. Having vowed to stamp out corruption, the NPP was allowing and encouraging those who had been making money at the expense of the sick, Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana said that as many as 10,000 tests were conducted daily at the NHSL. The racketeers had been active during Aragalaya as the NHSL and the private supplier reached agreement in 2022 and the process continued even after the last presidential election, conducted in September 2024.
Dr. Bellana said that the long delay in finalising the Auditor General’s appointment exposed the government. If those holding high political office were genuinely interested in fighting corruption, they wouldn’t have allowed that Office of AG stay vacant even for a day.
Dr. Bellana noted the tough statements issued by the Bar Association, Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Committee on Public Finance demanding the immediate appointment of AG.
Health Ministry officials were not available for comment.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
BIA unions, including those affiliated to political parties, are demanding bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries.
A group of workers yesterday (29) protested outside BIA urging the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd to increase their bonuses. They claimed that the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd., Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, had assured them that they would be paid bonuses worth five times their basic salaries.
The SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the airport, the Podujana Sewaka Sangamaya, the Pragathishili Sewaka Sangamaya, the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, and the SLNSS of SriLankan Airlines joined the protest.
The Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has issued an urgent safety warning to residents living along the banks of the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River, as water levels in the Kotmale Reservoir are reaching maximum capacity.
According to a special weather advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology on December 26, 2025, heavy rainfall is expected in the catchment areas over the coming days.
In response, the Mahaweli Authority released a statement on December 27, warning that spill gates may have to be opened to manage the water flow.
Eng. A.M.A.K. Seneviratne, Resident Engineer and Deputy Director of the Kotmale Reservoir, stated that the opening of spill gates would lead to a significant rise in the water levels of both the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River.
Areas on Alert
Residents in the following Divisional Secretariat divisions are urged to remain extra vigilant:
• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West and Kotmale East.
• Kandy District: Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Doluwa, Pasbage Korale, and Ganga Ihala Korale.
Authorities have advised the public in these low-lying and river-adjacent areas to monitor the situation closely and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the protection of their property.
By S.K. Samaranayake
Showers expected at times in the Northern, Eastern, Central, North-central and Uva provinces
Dr. Bellana: “I was removed as NHSL Deputy Director for exposing Rs. 900 mn fraud”
BIA unions demand bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries
People warned of rising water levels at Kotmale reservoir
Lahore Aitchison College students visit Pakistan High Commission, Colombo
GMOA may take up Dr. Bellana’s issue at ex-co
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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