The Hon. K. Kader Masthan

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, today we are debating the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill. This is needed for the country, and we commend the government.

¶ 03 According to statistics, in 2021 there were 22,847 road accidents with 2,557 deaths; in 2023 there were 2,250 deaths. Through such legal reforms—tightening laws, increasing fines—we can protect pedestrians, passengers, and drivers. Using technology to monitor traffic can prevent accidents and unsafe driving and ensure a more peaceful journey.

¶ 04 In Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, and Mannar there are great needs. Even in ordinary villages in the Western Province, concrete roads exist, but not in our areas. From getting students to school to taking produce to market, people face severe difficulties—these are longstanding, war-related problems that remain unresolved.

¶ 05 We must thank the previous government’s One Hundred Thousand Kilometre Roads program under which 50–60 km of carpeted roads per district were built. After the economic crisis, many projects remained half-done—some 30% or 50% completed. In this year’s Budget, Rs. 5,000 million has been allocated for rural roads and bridges in the Northern Province; we thank the Hon. Minister and the government.

¶ 06 At District Coordinating Committee meetings, including with RDA engineers, we learned that carpeting a kilometre of rural road can cost over Rs. 25 million. The allocated funds are insufficient; while we appreciate the allocation, the government should treat completion of half-done roads in the North as a special program, like foreign-funded tank rehabilitation.

¶ 07 On bridges: the long-awaited Vattuvagal Bridge in Mullaitivu has seen arrangements made—thank you, Hon. Minister. Works on the Sivapuram Kuththu Bridge and the Kalingku Bridge at Thaniyankulam were initiated but suspended due to the economic crisis. The Kalladi Bridge at Erukkalampiddy needs rehabilitation; about 200 fishing families use that route. Tenders and evaluations were done but works were halted after the election was announced. I request funding to complete these suspended road and bridge works.