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Southern coastal road links South and East
The newly rehabilitated southern coastal road stands as a landmark of post-tsunami recovery. The road will connect the south and the East for trade access between the two regions, this was revealed at a press conference, held at the Taj on Tuesday to announce the handing over of the Rehabilitated Southern Coastal Road to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Ambassador of the European Union Bernard Savage.
The road will connect people as it is for the purpose of the people to connect with Each other with free access and choice of the people after the liberation.
The road was build within the given time period and the budget of the EU, the period was 30 months from March 2007 to October 2009 and with Rs.4.6 billion. According to a delegate the road was constructed six weeks ahead of schedule.
The newly rehabilitated road consists of 39 bridges and spreads out in 158Km of distance connecting Matara and Wallawaya.
According to the Ministry of Highway and Road Development the 158Km road will help to reduce the time from Matara to Walawaya by 50 percent reducing the fuel consumption as well helping the environment and the country's economy to grow.
Prior to the handing over Ambassador, Head of Delegation Savage was quoted as saying the "the newly reconstructed 158 km of road is a gift to Sri Lanka in the spirit of friendship and solidarity from the people of Europe. This road will now serve as a link promoting economic, social and cultural exchanges and friendship between the people of the South and the East of the country".
In completing this road section, the European Union has assisted the Tsunami Affected Areas Rebuilding Project (TAARP) initiated by the Government of Sri Lanka and helped connect Tsunami affected districts to the national and provincial road networks, thereby significantly increasing economic benefits while strengthening the social and cultural ties between communities.
The road will be officially handed over by HE Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Bernard Savage to HE President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presence of Hon Minister of Highways and Road Development and other dignitaries at a ceremony at the Temple Trees today the 26th of November 2009.
The newly rehabilitated road is part of the European Union's overall post-tsunami aid package to Sri Lanka, which is approximately LKR 24.2 billion (EURO 147 million). The EU - Tsunami aid programme covered not only affected districts in the South and East, but also provided support to the affected districts in the North.
