‘The road to SJB Kaduwela organizer Pathberiya’s village is also renovated’

Under the national project to develop 1,500 kilometres of roads, the development work of the road from Bakmeegaha road in Pore, Athurugiriya to Mailangama commenced under the patronage of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana.

A large number of vehicles travel daily on this road, which is used as an alternative route to avoid heavy traffic congestion in the Athurigiriya town, while people in many areas use this road for their transportation needs.

Following a request made by the former opposition leader of the Kaduwela Municipality Priyantha Pathberiya and the public representatives, as well as local residents, to renovate this road pointing out the difficulty in traffic due to the existing dilapidated condition, the laying carpets on this road commenced.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said he is the most fortunate teacher in the country who has taught the subjects of A/Level economics, commerce and finance to hundreds of thousands of children across the country, including the current chairman of the University Grants Commission, the Secretary of the Ministry of Mass Media, the Chairman of the People’s Bank and many others who are participating in this event.

“Dr. Major Pradeep Undugoda and previous opposition leader Priyantha Pathberiya were my former students. But I was not able to teach this subject to Opposition Leader Sajith Premjadasa and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. I wonder how fortunate the country would be, had I got the opportunity to do so,” Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said.

Due to the economic crisis faced by the country, it was not possible to start or carry out any development work in the country during the last two years. For a long time, no foreign country or organisation was willing to lend us money and had suspended further loans to our country due to non-repayment of loans taken by our country, the Minister said.

“When Gotabaya Rajapaksa left office, no one came forward to take responsibility for the country. At that time, Ranil Wickremesinghe, an experienced political leader, accepted the challenge with the consent of the majority in Parliament. His first task was to enter into an extended credit agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”

The Minister said that the country has reached a point where it can breathe again after entering into an agreement with the IMF.

“In the past, US$ 500 million had been received under the aid of the World Bank for road development works across the country. US$ 310 million was taken from the Treasury when there was a shortage of medicine, fuel and essential food in the country.”

“As a result, all road development projects came to a halt. With the signing of the debt restructuring agreement, negotiations commenced with the Kuwait Fund and the Saudi Fund and work is being carried out to release the loan support part by part. At the same time, steps have been taken to restart many projects that were stopped in the middle. Accordingly, I believe that before the end of this year, it will be possible to start the new road projects that will be built up to Athurugiriya,” Minister Dr. Gunawardhana said.

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