Time has come to identify new contractors and expedite road development – Johnston

Minister Johnston Fernando instructed the relevant officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Highways, R. W. R. Premasiri to immediately look for new contractors, who could be used for road development projects and explore their potential.

He gave these instructions when the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Highways met in Parliament recently.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Highways instructed the relevant officials to take immediate action to expedite the development of roads in several districts, countrywide, including Matara, Kandy, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Badulla, Hambantota, Matale and Kalutara districts.

 Member of Parliament Chandima Weerakkody pointed out the need to expedite the development of roads in the tourist zones, such as Galle, Rumassala and Unawatuna as the tourism industry in Sri Lanka was gradually picking up at present.

Expressing her views, MP Diana Gamage endorsed the proposal made by Weerakkody and pointed out that there were a number of very old iron bridges built by the British throughout Sri Lanka and they could be developed and made into very attractive tourist destinations.

She pointed out that there are popular tourist destinations around the world such as London Bridge in the UK and that Sri Lanka also had valuable and attractive tourist attractions such as the Demodara Nine Arch Bridge, adding that the development of those places could be very important for tourism.

Replying to this, the Minister Fernando said that it was a very important proposal and informed the officials to look into the steps that could be taken accordingly.

Madura Vithanage, MP pointed out that no systematic programme was being implemented to install electricity poles near roads.

MP Vithanage requested the Minister to discuss with the relevant parties and formulate a proper programme for the purpose and the Minister said necessary steps will be taken soon.

While MP Sanjeewa Edirimanne directed the attention on the development of several roads in the Kalutara District, MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe pointed out that more attention should be paid to the road works from the new town in the Matara area to the Godagama Expressway.

Minister Johnston Fernando said it is especially important to take the right steps as soon as possible for road development and instructed the relevant parties to take the necessary action as soon as possible.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee Angajan Ramanathan, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, State Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara, Nimal Lanza and Janaka Wakkumbura and Members of Parliament Chandima Weerakkody, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Madura Vithanage, Sampath Athukorala, Isuru Dodangoda, Cader Mastan, Sanjeewa Edirimanne, Diana Gamage, and Goonetileke Rajapaksa, Members of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Highways V. Radhakrishnan, Amarakeerthi Athukorala and H. Nandasena also participated.