Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana vested with the people the renovated Ella Kumbalwela Mahamevnawa Mawatha.
The road was renovated at a cost of Rs. 20 million on a request by the Chairman of the Badulla District Development Committee, Member of Parliament, Major Sudarshana Denipitiya and under the rural road development programme of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Chief Incumbent of the Bodhigiri Wana Sehasuna, Ven. Iddamgama Gnanadhamma Thera appreciated the efforts of Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana to renovate the road heeding to his request.
The Thera said while many others earlier had not taken any action to renovate the road even after numerous requests, the Minister responded positively and took action immediately to renovate the road.
Speaking at the event the Minister said, “As a Buddhist, I am very happy to have the opportunity to build a carpeted road instead of the difficult road to this place under the budget allocation made by the President on behalf of the Government.
“Due to the massive collapse of the country during the last period, we were unable to pay back the loans taken from foreign countries, resulting in a situation where there was no financial provision that can be allocated for infrastructure development. Under every government in the country, roads, electricity, waterways and other infrastructure were always built not with the public’s tax money, but with the assistance of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other countries’ foreign loans.
“The reason for this is that no matter which government exists in Sri Lanka, the government does not have enough income to cover its day-to-day running costs, so all the capital expenditure is borrowed domestically and abroad. In the last two years, all development projects were stalled due to non-payment of loans.
“It became impossible to do even the most essential things, let alone many development projects. But due to the agreements made through negotiation with the International Monetary Fund and the creditor countries, we once again became a country that obtains a grace period for debt payments that receive foreign debt assistance.”
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