Prompt repairs to damaged highways

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Highways Minister Nirmala Kotalawala yesterday assured that prompt action will be taken to repair all highways damaged due to heavy rains in the Eastern, Central and North Central Provinces as soon as dry weather conditions set in next month.

According to a spokesman for the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) the recent rains had affected nearly 13 districts including Ampara, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Moneragala, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa.

It is reported that 70 percent of the road network in these three provinces had been badly damaged due to unexpected rains which continued for nearly six days.

Minister Kotalawala said that the Government hopes to spend over Rs. 500 million to repair the damaged roads in these three provinces.

In addition, nearly 60 percent of the roads in Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha districts which were damaged due to heavy rains during the past few weeks also need urgent repairs.

According to the Meteorological Department the rains had affected the entire country adversely especially the Western, Eastern, Central and North Central Province due to climatic changes.

Minister Kotalawala said that he had inspected several damaged roads in various districts and a team of officials has been already deployed to supervise the condition of all roads while renovation work is being carried out on some roads.

The Minister said that the Government has already allocated funds for road renovations and the assistance of Local Government institutions countrywide has also been sought in this regard.