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President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday laid the foundation stone for the Nilwala new bridge of the Matara- Kataragama railway line project.

Addressing the people the President said that many parliamentary members during the past three decades requested funds to extend the railway line from Matara to Kataragama. But finally nothing happened. We are today left with the railway track constructed by the foreigners which is restricted to 1453 kilometres today, he observed.

"I can remember the interest shown by the late Gamini Fonseka to complete this project. Even Minister A. H. M. Fowzie have had so many discussions and requested at least to extend the railway line to Kakenadura", he said.

'If we can improve the road network and conduct rural development efficiently, we can limit tax frauds and properly manage government expenditure, he noted.

President said that the Matara-Kataragama Railway project cost Rs. 22 billion and allocated Rs.1.4 million for the first phase.

'Before we complete this project Minister Mangala Samaraweera might have completed the Hambantota Port and the Air Port,' the President added.

'All efforts will be put to the Gama Naguma programme to achieve set targets. We must give a helping hand to the people in villages who have excelled in their fields like the weight lifting Gold medallist in Polonnaruwa. Officials in luxury air conditioned rooms in Colombo will have to come to villages to implement development projects,' the President stressed.

Separate Ministries are set up to implement and coordinate the work and believe that Minister Fowzie will use young energy to achieve the set targets, he quipped.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, A.H.M Fowzie, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane, Keheliya Rambukwelle, Mahinda Amaraweera, Chandrasiri Gajadeera and JVP MP Premasiri Mannage also participated in the event.

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