The Pamankada bridge currently under construction, at 44 m in width, will be the widest bridge in Sri Lanka, asserted Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando.
“This bridge, with 44 metres’ width, is going to be the widest bridge in the country. It’s our hope to complete this work by the end of this year,” he stated during a ceremony held to hand over keys of newly built houses to those who had lost theirs owing to the widening of the Pamankada bridge.
Minister Fernando added that the original plan was to complete the construction of the new bridge by 31 March 2022, but an additional 90 days were required by the constructors owing to changes in the plans. However, the development work would continue despite the challenges posed, he assured.
“Today, we hand over the keys to newly built houses for those who had lost their property and land to give way to the new bridge being constructed to solve traffic congestion that lasted for decades at Pamankada. We are passing a period of trying times. We are confronted with a dollar shortage problem yet we have not stopped our work and are moving forward.
“This is also an indication that we continued to work despite a pandemic-induced economic crisis. People may recall that we used to work in the same manner while we were fighting a war. But could anyone remember any substantial development project by the Yahapalana Government? They did nothing to develop the country. They could not implement a single project to upgrade the country’s power sector while engineers and other experts kept pointing out the need to do so. Now, as a result we have to face the power cuts.”
He further charged that those who did nothing to improve the country’s energy sector while they were in power now attend Parliament with candles and flashlights.
“In a way, it’s an irony of fate for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs to bring torches and candles to Parliament with the intention of finding fault with us for the ongoing power cuts, while they were the ones actually responsible for this crisis because they did nothing to upgrade the country’s power and energy sector during the Yahapalana tenure. We as a nation today pay the price of their incompetence from 2015 to 2019,” the Minister said.
Responding to a question raised by a journalist who pointed out that the Opposition was alleging that there was no food, no fuel, and no electricity in the country, the Minister said: “There is no starvation in this country. We have to accept that. Fuel prices have risen recently and there may be further increases because of the Russia-Ukraine war. Yet, we have decided not to stop any development project.
“We have to admit there is a cement problem today that is because of the increased demand owing to the boom of the construction industry. The Opposition members think that there would be a regime change on the basis of these temporary shortages. That is why they stage protests carrying torches. They do not even know how to organise a protest properly; otherwise they would not have grabbed temporary issues to campaign against a Government.
“As a responsible Minister of the Government, I say that there are problems. If there was no dollar crisis, we would not have let people stand in queues. But these are very temporary issues which will be solved in the coming weeks. Those who know their history are aware that all the governments had to opt for power cuts at various times. It is not a new thing.
“Our Government has commenced developing renewable energy projects so that future generations of this country would not suffer power cuts. The Yahapalana Government could have done the same, but they did not, owing to their incompetence. Today, they stage protests thinking that people have forgotten that it was due to their incompetence the nation is experiencing power cuts,” the Minister said.
Pamankada bridge will be widest in Sri Lanka: Johnston
28 Feb 2022
Pamankada bridge will be widest in Sri Lanka: Johnston
28 Feb 2022