Road Development Authority (RDA) Director General K. W. Kandambi said that 302 roads damaged by floods and landslides during the recent adverse weather conditions have now been reopened for traffic, while urgent repair work is underway on the remaining 14 severely damaged roads.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, the Director General said the roads currently under repair are located in several provinces, with nine in the Central Province, two in the Uva Province, two in the Northern Province, and one in the North Western Province.
In the Central Province, repair and development work is ongoing on the Peradeniya–Rikillagaskada, Galaha–Delpitiya, Nawalapitiya–Dolosbage, Matale–Illukkumbura–Laggala, Kalalpitiya–Ukuwela–Elkaduwa, Moragahakanda–Wellawa, Gonboruoya–Balapokuna, Kandehandiya–Adikaramgoda–Loggaloya, and Ramboda–Pusulpitiya roads.
Kandambi said the Peradeniya–Rikillagaskada Road is expected to be reopened within 10 days, while the Matale–Illukkumbura–Laggala Road is scheduled to be completed within three weeks. He noted that the Kalalpitiya–Ukuwela–Elkaduwa Road has suffered extensive damage, requiring the addition of a new road section, for which land acquisition will be necessary. A new bridge also needs to be constructed on the Moragahakanda–Wellawa Road.
In the Uva Province, the Randapola–Ambewela Road and the Demodara–Spring Valley Road are expected to be reopened to traffic within the next 10 days.
Meanwhile, a Bailey bridge is to be installed on the damaged Nainamadu–Iranawila Road in the North Western Province. In the Northern Province, the RDA, together with the Sri Lanka Army, is constructing two new bridges on the Mullaitivu–Kokilai–Nayaru Road. In addition, a Bailey bridge is proposed for the Paranthan–Karachchi–Mulakivu Road.
The Director General said the restoration programme is being implemented as a short-, medium- and long-term initiative, with all necessary measures being taken to restore the country’s entire transportation network to its previous condition.
