The handing over of deeds for plots of land given to those who were deprived of their homes due to the acquisition of land for the Central Expressway took place at the Ministry auditorium under the patronage of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana.
A total of 7,881 plots of land have been acquired for the project in the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Mahara, Gampaha, Attanagalle, Divulapitiya, Minuwangoda, and Mirigama. The amount paid as compensation is Rs. 10,852.03 million.
Deeds were handed over under this programme for providing replacement land to 71 people who lost their homes during the land acquisition for this project. Deeds were given for thirty-one plots of land in the Ambanawatta restoration land, 20 plots of land in the Mottunnawatte restoration land, and 20 plots of land in the Pathakadawatte restoration land by the guests present, led by the Minister.
Speaking on this occasion, Minister Dr. Gunawardhana said: “After independence, Sri Lanka had a closed economic system until 1977. As a result, the infrastructure in all sectors was very underdeveloped. After 1977, Sri Lanka was transformed into an open economic system and connected with the international community, and there were many infrastructure development projects and large-scale development schemes.
“We did not have sufficient financial resources. Therefore, all these development activities had to be carried out by obtaining loans, both domestically and from abroad under every existing government. Therefore, the roads built in the country including all expressways, power plants, the Mahaweli, Uma Oya, Gin Ganga and all development projects were carried out by obtaining loans both locally and from abroad.
“Due to not generating enough income to pay off the loans taken in this way and incurring unaffordable welfare expenses for a long time, the economic crisis escalated after the Covid crisis. Due to this, it was impossible to repay the loans. Eventually the country went into bankruptcy and due to this, the compensation to be paid to people for such projects was also delayed for a long time. Therefore, the government had to face various kinds of insults, mockery, protests, etc. from many parties and some people even tried to kill themselves. But there was no way to pay that compensation.
“The Road Development Authority has paid Rs. 361 billion to the contractors through bonds. The Road Development Authority has to pay more compensation for land acquired for many other projects. Alternative land should be provided. We hope to resolve those issues gradually.”
State Minister of Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways Ranjith Ganganath Rubasinghe, Additional Secretary to the Ministry U.H.C. Priyantha, Additional Secretary (Rural Road Development) Bandula Ranaweera, Additional Secretary (Development) Chandrani Samarakoon, Road Development Authority Chairman Chaminda Athuluwage, Director General Priyantha Suriya Bandara and other officials, deed recipients and others were present.
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