UNP Galle District MP Gayantha Karunatilake yesterday (10) told Parliament that there are 39 unsafe iron underpasses in the Southern expressway which could come down anytime on the heads of commuters using the roads below them.

Moving an adjournment motion on the recent death of a student who died when a metal underpass of the Southern Expressway at Poddala, collapsed MP Karunatilake said that people in the South have been terrorised by this incident. "Now people who have to use the roads under these metal underpasses are not sure whether they would be able to pass them without being hurt," he said.

A bridge over a culvert situated on the Southern Expressway at Poddala in Galle collapsed on May 27 causing the death of a schoolboy. The victim Vajira De Silva was a student of Richmond College, Galle and was preparing to sit for his GCE Advanced Level Examination this year, he said. "There are many consultants, engineers who had been paid millions in salaries, provided with official residences and luxury cars, but there was none to supervise the underpasses and avoid the tragic death."

"There are a large number of ministers in this Government, but it is a shame that there was none to visit the house of this student. There were press reports that Rs 100,000 compensation was offered by the Government which the parents had rejected. These reports are wrong. I know that no compensation had been made or the Government had not attempted to compensate," MP Karunatilake said.

Matara District JVP MP Chandrasena Wijesinghe: "This is a very important issue, but there is no single Cabinet Minister inside the Chamber when this was taken for the debate. This very same participation and involvement could be seen in the development programmes too. The Government spends Rs 24.1 billion to construct this expressway consisting four lanes from Kurundu Gaha Hethakma upto Pinnadoowa. There are 39 underpasses which were made by the same constructor using the same technology and material. Who can guarantee their safety? The road is yet to be open for public, who could give a guarantee that they would last long?"

Highway Minister W.P. Ekanayake said that on the directions of the President, a three-member independent committee had been appointed to find out the cause for the collapse. The Investigation Committee comprises a representative each from the Institution of Engineers’ Sri Lanka, University of Moratuwa and the Consultant Engineers’ and Construction Bureau (CECB). The committee is expected to investigate and submit a detailed report within two weeks. The constructor Kumagai Company of Japan is ready to pay a compensation of Rs two million. Before the opposition points their finger at this government it should keep in mind that the agreement to award the tender to the Kumagai company was signed in 2003, he said.