The government officially launched the National Rural Road Development Program on Saturday, aiming to improve 1,800 rural roads by the end of the year, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake said.
The project, which commenced with the development of the Kosgama South Kadugoda Pussella Road in the Seethawaka area, will see simultaneous work at 57 locations nationwide. The total estimated cost is Rs. 14 billion, with Rs. 65 million allocated for the initial site.
Rathnayake said the administration is committed to transforming the rural infrastructure in line with its policy of creating a “prosperous country with a beautiful life.” He emphasized that 70 percent of the population resides in rural areas and enhancing their livelihoods is a government priority.
The minister criticized previous governments for misusing tax funds, stating that corruption and waste must be stopped. He called on public officials and communities to actively participate in the development process, noting that transparency and accountability are key to success.
Under the guidance of the president, an additional Rs. 5 billion has been allocated for rural road development. Plans are also underway to develop Avissawella into a fully equipped city, including the establishment of a multimodal transport hub. (Newswire).
