Proper road network essential for development – President
The Highways Ministry has to play a major role to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people by making the development program a reality, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa presiding over a special conference held at the Highways Ministry yesterday.
The President said the maintenance of a proper road network is most essential to carryout the development program in an efficient manner to deliver the fruits of development to the people.
At this conference which focused on the activities of the ministry during the past six years and its future plans, the President said the government had made the biggest allocation of Rs 102 billion to the Highways Ministry in the past. Such a big allocation was made with the sole intention of providing an efficient and systematic road network and thereby improve community life.
Therefore officials should dedicate themselves to ensure the highest dividends to the people.
A press release by the President’s Media Division said officials attending the discussion pointed out that although the target of the Maga Neguma road development project was to complete 720km of roads they had been able to exceed the target to 855 km.
It was also pointed out that a major part of the Matara-Colombo Expressway was already complete and the entire expressway could be opened for the public by June this year. Nearly 30 percent of the Katunayake- Colombo expressway was also complete and it would be possible to complete the entire expressway by the end of 2012. The work on the Highways Secretariat which started last year was complete upto three levels and the entire building would be ready for opening by the end of this year.
The President also directed officials to complete the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the areas where the world cup cricket matches are due to be held soon to facilitate local and foreign tourists expected during the world cup season.
The President also noted that the country’s transport service should also be extended with the extension of the road network.
Deputy Ministers Nirmala Kotalawala and Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga also attended the conference.
Courtesy: Daily News
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Infrastructure development is a broad concept and should not be just limited to developing just arterial roads. Programmes like ‘Anavaranaya’ in ITN news bulletins often highlight poor road maintenance in rural areas. People and children cross rivers across edandas which are very risky. Rural schools and hospitals are dilapidated. Poor villages do not enjoy the scale of services enjoyed by towns. Ministers and MPs hardly visit these rural areas except during election times to garner votes. What duplicity! They live off the tax burden on the poor people. Whichever party comes to power they are all corrupt. Ministers and MPs do not serve the people. They serve themselves and their families at cost to the public purse. These corrupt politicians roll in wealth. The public have become gonnu drawing the bara karaththaya of ministers and MPs fattenned at the expense of the people.
I thought Mahinda Chintanaya is the way forward. But it is now only limnited to words. MR has also become corrupted. I am so disappointed! Whither SL? MR is feeling safe within his jumbo cabinet, a huge burden on the nation. They do f..k all for the nation except to enjoy a comfortable life at the expense of the treasury. I curse them all! There are no philanthropists today, like F R Senanayake, who were dedicated to serve the nation and used their wealth doing works of charity, rather than live-off the people. MR has now become another politician uttering empty rhetoric every now and then, just sound bytes, but little genuine action that serve the real needs and interests of the nation. No effort is made by his jumbo cabinet to go out among the people, especially the rural folk, to identify their needs, and solve their problems speedily. How can the country develop if we do not have a genuine caring government?
Ada kale Lankawe Mantri Kenek Wenna Kawuruth Balanawa, Mokada Mewage Salli Garanna Wenna Kissima Rassawakin beri nisa. Meka Den Hema Pakschayakma Puruddak karagena. Balayata Enna Essarawela Rate Nethi Loka Boru Kiyala Minnissun Rawatala Balayata evith Minnissuntama Me Ayage Bara Uhulannath wennawa. Yanna wahana mulupawulatama, gewal ,Telephon, wathurabil,Lightbill Nommile Hamu wenakota Me wage Nikan idan inna Panduwan tika Thawa Hema dekatama Duppathagen Pagawa kannth purudu wella, Gorawanakota Me Aya bayai Parakawath Yanna. Me wage Aparada Deviyan Uhulanne Nethi Bawa E Aya Dannawa.
Rani
Mama hemadama deviyanvahnseta yaagna karanava apa mavubima me yakkungen thuran karanna kiya. Koti yakava thuran kala men desapalana yakavath, janathava kollakana hetthavath thuran karanna kiya yadinava. Unta mama hemadama saapa karanava. Honda manthri kenekuta inne athalossak pamanai. Mama deviyanta yadinava me ayava araksha karanna kiya, ashirvada karanna kiya. MR issara honda minihek, den minihath veradi maga yanne, mahinda chinthana maga neveyi. Eya den kadasiyata pamanai seema vela thiyenne!