May 27, Colombo: Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, said that highway development projects which have been suspended under the assistance of the Asian Development Bank will be restarted.

Minister Gunawardena made this disclosure addressing the Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Transport and Highways held yesterday (26) at the Parliament Complex.

The request of all members of parliament regardless of party affiliation was to resume the construction of the road development projects that have been stopped in all parts of the island as soon as possible.

The MPs were of the opinion that if repairs are not done on many of the roads which are already in a very dilapidated condition, it will become impossible for the public to even to travel in the future.

Speaking at the meeting, the minister said according to the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund, until a debt restructuring is carried out in Sri Lanka, the credit assistance given to Sri Lanka has been stopped.

Since the beginning of history, most of the road development projects carried out in the country have been implemented under the loan assistance received from various foreign organizations and countries, the Minister pointed out. However, paying attention to the dilapidated nature of the road system in the country, the Ministry of Transport and Highways has made a special request from the Asian Development Bank to obtain a loan of US$ 53 million at least for the early completion of the essential road projects initiated under the i Road (Integrated Rural Road Investment) project.

Discussions about it are being conducted at a successful level and are currently in the final stage, the Transport Minster said.

The Minister instructed the ministry officials to assist in identifying the roads that are currently in a very difficult condition for traffic through the Regional Development Committees implemented throughout the island, to start immediately upon receipt of $ 53 million loan from the Asian Development Bank.