President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced plans to construct 250 new bridges across Sri Lanka to enhance road connectivity and maximise the benefits of national development projects for rural communities.
The President made this announcement at a celebration in Colombo on Monday (3), marking the successful completion of 750 rural bridges by Janson Bridging International from the Netherlands from 2014-2024.
President Wickremesinghe emphasised the Government’s commitment to improving the living conditions of the people in the areas connected by these bridges. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the benefits of economic development reach the poorest segments of society.
The celebration highlighted the significant impact of the completed 750 bridges in improving accessibility and fostering development in various rural parts of Sri Lanka, underscoring the collaborative efforts between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in infrastructure development.
President Wickremesinghe highlighted the Government’s goal to reduce multidimensional poverty to 10 percent by focusing on rural communities. He emphasised the critical role of infrastructure projects in rural areas in achieving this objective. The President expressed his gratitude to the Netherlands Government for their support in this endeavour.
During the celebration, President Wickremesinghe and Netherlands Ambassador to Sri Lanka Bonnie Horbach were presented with a plaque. This commemorative plaque marked the 10th anniversary of Janson Bridging International and celebrated the completion of 750 bridges in Sri Lanka over the past decade.
The President also said: “We are here to witness the completion of 750 bridges constructed by Janson Bridging. This is a formidable task that they have successfully accomplished. I am familiar with the areas where these rural bridges were built. While bridges are easier to construct than highways, they were nevertheless constructed in remote and difficult places. These bridges collectively enhance the living conditions of the connected areas.
“Connectivity is crucial over rivers, over bridges and even in terms of speed. This extensive network of connectivity enables us to transport goods to the main highways and send them to Colombo or other major cities. This project is significant, and we aim to complete another 250 bridges, making it a total of 1,000.
“Why is this necessary? The poverty rate in our country has increased from about 15 percent in 2019 to over 25 percent. We are committed to reducing it to 10 percent by 2032. The agreement signed with the IMF is not just about statistics; as the economy develops, we must ensure it benefits the poorest of the poor. Our goal is to reduce multidimensional poverty to 10 percent, focusing on those in rural areas.
“Connectivity projects like this help us reach this target. The economic and social benefits are evident, and we will see the impact within five years of the project’s completion. I also thank the Netherlands Government for their contribution to these projects. Together with the Ambassador, we opened four hospitals in the Northern Province, serving different communities.
“These two projects significantly uplift Sri Lanka’s rural communities. When I became President, I was committed to advancing these projects, recognising their critical impact. Thank you again for these initiatives and for returning the Lewke Disawe’s artwork. I have no doubt there will be much more to come.
“Due to the adverse weather, we are facing a flood situation that has already claimed many lives. The Government has committed to rebuilding all the houses completely destroyed by this calamity with the help of the Armed Forces. After receiving reports on partially damaged buildings, related decisions will be made. The Prime Minister is scheduled to present an urgent Cabinet Paper on this matter to the Cabinet.
“Additionally, I have instructed the release of available funds to provide all necessary relief for the affected people. District Secretaries have been directed to promptly prepare estimates for all necessary provisions.
“In 2017, the Government spent Rs. 170 billion to address disaster-related issues, where 13 districts were in a state of disaster. This time, some provinces have not suffered from major damage. Nonetheless, we aim to allocate all necessary funds to settle disaster damage this year and next year.”
Netherlands Ambassador to Sri Lanka Bonnie Horbach said: “It is an absolute honour to be here today to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Janson Bridging in Sri Lanka and the completion of 750 bridges over the past decade.
“Janson Bridging has spent the last ten years in Sri Lanka building bridges, not the fancy ones we often think of, but those that connect people, unlock opportunities and directly benefit local communities.
Leadership is about unlocking people’s potential to become better. President Wickremesinghe, you demonstrated leadership two years ago during the country’s worst economic crisis. At that time, important and difficult decisions had to be made about which investments to continue and which to delay.”
MP Vajira Abeywardena, Deputy Head of Mission of the Netherlands Embassy Iwan Rutjens, Access Group’s Chairman Sumal Perera, Foresight Engineering’s MD Theo Fernando, and Janson Bridging International’s MD Dirk Fransen and other distinguished guests attended.
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