Cabinet approval for 66 road projects in N&E

• $ 200 million to be allocated under phase one for 2,500 km of rural roads 

The Cabinet has granted approval for the rehabilitation and upgrade of 66 roads in the conflict-affected Northern and Eastern provinces based on a Cabinet memorandum submitted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.  

Unreliable and inadequate road infrastructure is a major impediment to economic growth in these two provinces. To create a conducive environment for private sector investments it is important to consider road improvement a high priority strategic investment. This will promote and expand the export of agricultural, fisheries and livestock products, etc. and enable the regions to make a bigger contribution to GDP.

Under phase one, it is planned to develop and upgrade approximately 2,500 km of RDA, RDD and rural roads at a cost of over $ 200 million as part of national integration and reconciliation efforts in the Northern and Eastern provinces to enhance unity, harmony, coexistence and build sustainable peace among communities and ensure economic growth and poverty reduction, said Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy.

Under this project, in the Jaffna District roads such as the Valukkaiyaru Punguduththivu-Kurikadduwan Road, Jaffna Manipai-Karainagar Road, Punnalai-Point Pedro Road and Eluthumadduwal-Nagarkovil Road, including many Road Development Authority (RDA), Road Development Department (RDD) and rural roads and the Nainathivu and Kurikadduwan jetties are to be rehabilitated. 

The Murikandi Kanagapuram Paranthan Road in the Kilinochchi District, the bridge across Kokkilai Lagoon, Vadduvaikal Bridge, and Vattapalai Main Road in the Mullaitivu District, Mahilankulam Pallamadhu Road, Peramanalankulam Road, Periyapandivirichan Road and Mullikulam Road in the Mannar District and Kiran Bridge, Santhiveli Thikiliveddai Bridge and Marine Drive Batticaloa-Kalkuda Road in the Batticaloa District will be rehabilitated and upgraded. 

Further, the Trincomalee and Ampara districts have also been included and many rural and RDD roads in northern and eastern districts are to be covered under this initiative.

The project is to be executed by the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation together with other relevant line ministries and agencies, including the RDA. 

The project was formulated under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s Northern and Eastern Provinces Development Committee and recommended by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management headed by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and was endorsed by Cabinet. The Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation comes directly under the purview of President Maithripala Sirisena and these road interventions will be executed under the President’s guidance. Action is being taken to call for tenders with financing arrangements on soft terms, said Sivagnanasothy.