The country can be proud of the beautiful Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium. Its construction within a short period of 6 to 7 months can be considered a most splendid achievement. We should congratulate the planners, architects, engineers, managers, supervisors, skilled and unskilled workers and everyone associated with this project for their contribution to this achievement. This also confirms that all Sri Lankans are not idlers and talkers and that some of them are really capable.

In contrast, let us examine the several public works which are dragging on for years and years. Some of the worst examples that come readily to mind are the construction of the Duplication Road from Colpetty to Wellawatte and the widening of the Baseline road from New Kelani bridge to Narahenpita.

Both these jobs have taken over 25 years and are still not complete. The ministers and engineers who were in charge of these works during this long period should take the full responsibility for this disgraceful performance. In any other country, they would have been removed from public office and disgraced.

They are the people who talk big at public meetings and cheat the people. What they could perhaps do now is to have the 25th anniversary celebrations of commencing these works and give a guarantee that these works will be completed within the next 25 years.

Another good example is the so-called Marine Drive from Colpetty to Dehiwala. I trust Mr. Fowzie or the Chairman of the Roads Authority could kindly inform the public as to what is happening to this project.

The President has promised to remove inefficient ministers and public servants from their posts. Perhaps, she can find some worthy examples from the above cases.
Kirthi de Fonseka
Colombo 4