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| Sunday, 7 July 2002 |
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A-5 highway to be re-opened by P. Krishnasamy The A-5 highway, also known as the PBC (Peradeniya, Badulla, Chenkalady) highway, connecting the Eastern and Uva provinces will be officially re-opened on July 15 for passenger traffic. This marks another milestone in North-East-South road transport links since the signing of the LTTE-Government MoU early this year. The 283 km-highway, with a 26-km stretch within the LTTE-controlled area, from Chenkalady to Mahaoya Junction, remained closed for the past six years. The re-opening of the highway is largely due to the initiatives taken by former Batticaloa MP, Chief UNP organiser and Advisor to the Policy Planning and Implementation Ministry, Alizahir Moulana. Following requests made by local farmers and traders Alizahir Moulana held discussions with LTTE Batticaloa political leader Karikalan who has co-operated and approved the re-opening. Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) have also given the necessary clearance. De-mining of the highway in some areas is now being carried out by the Sri Lanka Army. The Road Development Authority for Ampara and Batticaloa is engaged in repairing the highway which will be completed within the next ten days. The highway provides easy access to Badulla and Ampara via Maha Oya and will facilitate marketing in the Central and Uva provinces of agricultural produce of the East. Resettlement of displaced people of several Eastern Province villages would also be facilitated after the highway is opened. Alizahir Moulana told the "Sunday Observer" that he would invite PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to officially inaugurate the PBC highway. It is expected that their LTTE's Karikalan, Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology, Milinda Moragoda and Maj. Gen. Sunil Tennakoon will also take part in the inauguration. |
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