The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena - Acting Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer to the question is as follows.

¶ 02 (a)(i) Under the Programme to Develop 100,000 Kilometres of Alternative Roads, 405 roads were proposed in the Kalutara District. Of these, 6 roads were cancelled and 399 included. The road list is provided in Annex 01.

¶ 03 (a)(ii) Of the roads included: 1. 201 roads have been completed. The list is in Annex 02. 2. 198 roads remain incomplete. The list is in Annex 03.

¶ 04 (a)(iii) The total expenditure for each road is given in Annexes 02 and 03.

¶ 05 (a)(iv) The progress of development works for each road is given in Annexes 02 and 03.

¶ 06 (b)(i) Although work commenced, it was not possible to complete 198 roads due to: 1. Suspension of works during the 2021–2022 period owing to the COVID-19 crisis. 2. Shortages of raw materials and fuel. 3. The 2021–2022 economic crisis and the Ministry of Finance Circular “Controlling Public Expenditure” (National Budget Circular No. 03/2022 and related instructions), under which projects were temporarily halted. A copy of the Circular is in Annex 04.

¶ 07 (b)(ii) A decision has been taken to assess the additional funds required to resume development of the incomplete roads.

¶ 08 (b)(iii) Thereafter, the proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to obtain the necessary provisions annually in tranches as supplementary allocations from 2026 onwards to continue these roads.

¶ 09 (b)(iv) Maintenance of roads improved under this Road Development Authority (RDA) project will be done by the RDA. Maintenance of other roads is the responsibility of the relevant Local Authorities and Provincial Councils.

¶ 10 (b)(v) The RDA has informed, in writing, the relevant Provincial Councils and Local Authorities to take back the roads that were temporarily taken over for this programme, and most of those roads have now been formally taken back by the relevant institutions.

¶ 11 (c) Not applicable.

¶ 12 Annexes 01, 02, 03 and 04 are placed in the Library.