ADB grants US $ 70 million to rehabilitate NE

The Asian Development Bank has provided financial assistance amounting to US$ 70 million for the Eastern and North Central Provincial Road Project in Sri Lanka.

Country Director of Asian Development Bank, Dr Richard Vokes and Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Treasury Secretary signing the agreement.

The total investment of US$ 78 million of which US$ 8 million will be contributed by the Government of Sri Lanka.

Around 150 km of provincial roads in the Eastern Province and 220 km of provincial roads in the North Central Province will be rehabilitated under the project.

The rehabilitation work includes improvement of road pavements, bridges, drainage and replacement of culverts of the proposed roads.

Some of the roads to be rehabilitated in the Eastern Province are Pankulum, Thiriyaya, Kuchchaveli, Kallampathai and Vavichenal access road. Among the roads proposed for rehabilitation in the North Central Province are Anuradhapura-Pemaduwa, Parasangaswewa-Katukeliyawa and Gonapathirawa-Akkara. The project will contribute to the overall performance of the road sector in the Eastern Province and the North Central Province by improving transport efficiency and expanding access to economic opportunities and public services. The project is expected to be completed by 2013.

The Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils will be the executing agency of the project.

The implementing agencies are North Central Provincial Road Development Authority and Eastern Provincial Road Development Department under the respective Provincial Councils. The Financing Agreement was signed on Monday at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Dr. P B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning signed the Agreement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Country Director of Asian Development Bank, Dr Richard Vokes signed on behalf of the Asian Development Bank.

A Project Agreement with regard to the implementation of the Project was also entered into between the ADB and the Provincial Councils and North Central Provincial Roads Development Authority.