But for 2015 regime change, all road development projects would have been completed by now – Johnston

Minister Johnston Fernando with Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa at the inauguration of the road development project.

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday (7) said that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had revolutionised road development in the country, and no other leaders had done so since the days of colonial Governor Sir Edward Barnes.

Speaking at the inauguration of construction of five flyovers and the elevated highway from the new Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya, the Minister recalled that during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency 13,000 kilometres of roads had been developed while the country was fighting a war.

“It is Mahinda Rajapaksa who introduced the expressway culture here. But for the 2015 electoral setback, we suffered, the country would have completed the entire road network by now. The five-year period under the yahapalana government saw the suspension of all development projects we had launched. Today, we are launching several key projects to ease traffic congestion in Colombo and its suburbs and Kandy as promised in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour programme. These projects will help ease traffic jams and save valuable time of people. We have identified traffic congestion as a major hindrance to the country’s development drive.

“I take this opportunity to thank the President, the Prime Minister and all ministers of the Cabinet, Secretary to the President Dr PB Jayasundara, Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle and Secretary to my ministry R.W.R. Pemasiri for their untiring efforts to make this success. I also thank China Harbour Engineering Company for its assistance during these difficult times. Soon after this project was given the cabinet approval, the Opposition shouted that we have given the road to China. They said the same when the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Colombo Port City project. None of this country’s assets have been sold under the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Opposition is good at only mudslinging.

“These projects will strengthen the economy of our nation. They will serve as pillars and underpin our development drive. The people will know Mahinda Rajapaksa as not only a leader who ended the war but also the man who developed this land as never before. We and people have our utmost faith the President and the Prime Minister.”