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.
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