The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 [11.22 a.m.]

¶ 02 I second the Motion on continuing construction of the Ruwanpura Expressway.

¶ 03 Parliament is for questions and speeches, not street chatter. Some say we hide behind privilege; we do not. Even from prison, I spoke here. Now complaints have gone to the CID about what I said; I ask the Speaker to write to them that I will appear whenever sent by Parliament. We are not afraid.

¶ 04 On travel, from Kottawa via the expressway to Matara, then Thanamalwila–Wellawaya–Ella to Badulla is the current route. If we had the Ruwanpura route via Horana–Ratnapura to Badulla, it would be about 250 km; via Matara it is about 350 km. Many roads have been developed in former war zones: from Anuradhapura–Jaffna Junction to Jaffna is carpeted; Habarana–Trincomalee, Kekirawa–Maradankadawala via Dambulla to Polonnaruwa — all like expressways. From the East too, many roads are built.

¶ 05 Restarted works like the Kandy Expressway are welcome; people expect delivery from every Government, as they did in the 1970s and under J.R. too. We now expect this Government, with a President and 159 Members, to build the Kandy and Ruwanpura Expressways. We will gladly travel on expressways built by this Government.

¶ 06 Today it takes about three hours from Kegalle to Colombo due to blocks; with the Kandy Expressway, two hours to Kandy and then two hours to Badulla via Randenigala would be possible. There is also a short route via Walapane–Rikillagaskada to Kandy; please complete that. Over the next five years, deliver these.

¶ 07 We acknowledge good works regardless of who inaugurates them — like large Sathosa outlets established earlier and opened recently. We want to travel to Badulla, Kandy or Ratnapura soon on an expressway built under the NPP Government. I conclude supporting early implementation.

¶ 08 Question proposed.