President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to give top priority to restoring damaged road infrastructure in order to normalize public life and ensure uninterrupted transport services in the aftermath of the recent disaster.
The President issued these directives during a discussion held yesterday (04) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Transport & Highways and the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting was convened to review the extent of damage caused to bridges and highways by Cyclone Ditwah and to assess the urgent measures required for their rapid restoration.
Detailed discussions focused on the repair of roads and bridges severely affected by landslides, flooding, and high water levels, the estimated timelines for restoration, and the allocation of necessary funds.
Officials noted that approximately 247 km of A- and B-grade roads across the country have been damaged due to adverse weather conditions, while 40 bridges have been destroyed. They further reported that 175 out of 256 damaged road sections have now been opened to traffic.
The discussion was attended by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harshaana Suriyapperuma, Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Kapila Perera, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russel Aponsu, Chairman of the Road Development Authority T. Paaskaran, Director General K.W. Kandambi and other senior officials.