Chinese on our pathways of prosperity

Seeing and reading a full-page advertisement titled – Revolutionary Pathways to Prosperity – my thoughts go back to 1960, the year I joined the Public Works Department [PWD] and was assigned the subject of Development and Improvements to Roads. At that time there was provision of a vote in the annual estimates for improvements to Ex-PRC, DRC and minor roads. The area engineers were instructed to select roads and submit estimates.

Later, this became a political issue and members of Parliament rushed to meet the Minister and demanded that the selection of roads be made their responsibility as they knew what was best for their electorates. A conference was called by the then Minister, to see how best to satisfy politicians. It was decided to allocate a certain amount of money to each MP.

As far as I could remember, each MP was granted Rs.10,000 and a Minister Rs.15,000. With that sum, which looks ridiculous now, half a mile of road or more could be metalled and tarred, or a few miles widened, and several culverts constructed

I also remember, the late D. B. Wijetunga, as Minister for Power, Energy and Highways, took a personal interest in upgrading these village roads, some of which were mere foot-paths, to motorable roads. He requested me to visit some roads that had been improved, and see how the life of villagers had improved, where the villagers who carried their produce to the town for sale, now used tractors, and in some areas, there were vans transporting children to schools. Even major highways were periodically improved, and that was the responsibility of the area engineer. The road overseer was responsible for maintaining roads in his area. The carpeting of roads came much later.

It is true that most roads are now carpeted, with contracts given to a Chinese Construction Company, but at what cost? I am not aware who prepares the estimates and I am told, subject to correction, that a kilometer of road to be carpeted, costs nearly Rs 10 million. This is a matter the Road Development Authority should look into, if it has not done so far.

It is the previous governments which should receive praise for initiating action to upgrade these roads, for the later or present government to further improve by carpeting them. The other aspect is that the Chinese have undertaken most of the work on loans provided by them, and engaging their own workers, materials and machinery although competent workers are available locally to perform most of the work.

Although Sri Lanka has materially benefitted, China has benefited financially, and also found employment for its citizens. We are in debt and find it difficult to repay loans with interest. Haven’t these loans made Sri Lanka poorer? Could these improvements await better times?

G. A. D. SIRIMAL

SLAS – Ret. Asst. Secretary,

Ministry for Power and Energy and Highways