Development projects to continue despite pandemic

● Government is also committed to take forward development activities in the country

The government says it will continue with the development projects despite the coronavirus pandemic.

State Minister for Rural Roads and other Infrastructure, Nimal Lansa said the main objective of the government is to protect the people from the virus.

He said the government is also committed to take forward development activities in the country.

The State Minister expressed these views after inaugurating several road development projects in the Bandaragama electorate in the Kalutara District yesterday.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated Rs.162 million for the development of 5 km of rural roads under the Second Integrated Road Investment Programme.

Lansa said that 790 km road network funded by the Asian Development Bank was suspended when former government was in office.

The Attorney General’s Department has now issued instructions to call for tenders for these road network and resume construction. Accordingly, the construction of these roads will commence within the next couple of months. The Ministry has also received around 9,000 proposals to construct new bridges and to replace the present bridges and culverts which are in dilapidated condition throughout Sri Lanka.the government aims to prioritize and build them within the next four years.

“We are planning to launch a bridge project in every electorate from December 1.The President has given instructions to construct 30,000 km of roads next year to achieve the target of reaching 100,000 km of roads,” the State Minister said.