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| Sunday, 1 September 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Constructors urge Govt. to take the lead by Elmo Leonard The call went out recently to the Government to provide a lead, and begin construction work in the war-shattered North and East of the island. The call came from officials of the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) at a media conference, following the opening of the 'Construction Exhibition 2002' in Colombo. Foreign donors were not prepared to fund the reconstruction of the North-East until a peace agreement between the Government and the LTTE was reached, Chairman, NCASL D.D. Wijemanne said. Among the projects earmarked for reconstruction in the North were the Kankasanthurai (KKS) Harbour, power generation projects and the KKS cement factory. If the Government provides an initiative and begins reconstruction work in the North and East, many others would come in, Chairman, Holcim Lanka Ltd., Manilal Fernando said. The Asian Development Bank had currently pledged only Rs 400 million for reconstruction of the A-9 Jaffna highway, which would be sufficient only for patchwork, the media was told. Many foreign missions had pledged to fund the reconstruction of the North and East, but were awaiting a permanent agreement between the Government and LTTE. It was argued that if the Government provided an impetus and began construction work, foreign donor agencies would begin their funding. The proposed Colombo - Kandy highway would entail a cost of around Rs 20 billion, and was expected to get off the ground by 2004. This proposed roadway would lie outside the existing highways, and the second half of the roadway would pass through 11 tunnels, Wijemanne said. The Government does not have the funds to construct this highway. Foreign funding is sought, and an overseas construction company would be awarded the construction work. Ninety per cent of the work is expected to be given on subcontract basis to local construction contractors, CEO, NCASL D.W. Balachandran said. The proposed Matara - Colombo highway had, in earlier years, received funding, but successive governments were not willing to begin work, as those who would lose land as a result were successful in holding up the project, Wijemanne said. The Malaysian Minister of Public Works, who was in Sri Lanka recently, had said that the Malaysian government needed six months to compensate people who lose land because of road construction. Within six months, the construction of such roadways would begin, Wijemanne said. |
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