The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Leader of the House of Parliament

¶ 01 As I stated, we have allocated funds to recommence the Heda Oya (Atimunei) bridge, with works in 2026. Both bridges, however, are not on RDA roads. If you, through the District Coordinating Committee with Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, obtain approval to include the Bryanthurai Kandam bridge under rural bridges, we have no objection. We have allocated LKR 26 billion in 2026 for rural roads. Additionally, in Ampara District, allocations are being made—e.g., Karthivu road bridge LKR 300 million, Pallam Odaya road bridge LKR 250 million, Odda road bridge LKR 275 million, Padiyatalawa road bridge LKR 75 million—totaling LKR 600 million plus a further LKR 900 million. Since the Bryanthurai Kandam location is not under the RDA, we cannot directly fund it, but if endorsed via the District Coordinating Committee, we will proceed.