News
Several projects to ease traffic congestion
The government had allocated funding, from the 2021 Budget for a number of initiatives to reduce traffic congestion in Colombo and its suburbs, Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando said recently at a meeting with Road Development Authority (RDA) officials.
“Funds have been allocated for flyovers, underground and overhead pedestrian crossings and bypasses to reduce congestion,” he added.
The Minister said already areas where flyovers and underground and overhead pedestrian crossings were necessary had been identified. Flyovers would be built at Kohuwala, Baladaksha Mawatha, Uttarananda Road and Justice Akbar Mawatha.
“Flyovers are also to be built at Muttettugala, Yangalmodara, Alawwa and Mahawa in the Kurunegala district and Getambe in the Kandy District,” the Minister said.
Minister Fernando said that one of the main reasons for traffic congestion in urban centres was the lack of designated pedestrian crossings. Underground and overhead pedestrian crossings needed to be built to reduce congestion as well as to improve the safety of the pedestrians.
“Underground and overhead pedestrian crossings are to be built near Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Rajagiriya, SLIT, President’s College, Rajagiriya, Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, Moratuwa, and castle Hospital, Colombo. Underground pedestrian crossings are to be built in Kottawa and Ratnapura too. Bypass roads will be built at Ratnapura, Warakapola and Ragama. We will also develop Borupona Road, from Hospital Road, Kimbulawala to Thorana Road, Pannipitiya. Through this road, people can easily reach Ratmalana airport and Galle Road,” Minister Fernando said.
Fernando also said an alternative road would be built connecting Chandrika Kumaratunga road and Thalahena to reduce traffic in Malabe town. An alternate road connecting Chandrika Kumaratunga road and Aturugiriya too will be developed.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
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