27 October 2023 01:46 pm Views - 1015
While participating in the opening ceremony of the replaced dilapidated bridge at the Bambalapitiya railway station, Transport and Highways Minister Bandula Gunawardana claimed that there are 30 dilapidated bridges around the country, and the Road Development Authority has estimated that more than Rs. 2,000 million is needed for their repairs to be completed.
"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the following economic crisis, none of these bridges can be repaired, no matter how badly they are damaged.
"Whoever the engineers and development heads who want to repair these bridges, all of them are stuck without funds.
"The Treasury does not have a single cent after paying the salaries and pensions of the government servants, and also Samuddhi payments.
"The government collected a total revenue of Rs. 1,751 billion from taxes imposed on people in 2022, of which 72 percent of the total revenue was allocated for public servants' salaries and pensions. Another Rs. 506 (remaining 28 percent) was allocated for Samurdhi and other concessions," he said.
"All of the other expenses were met through local and foreign loans. Our country is not getting any foreign loans as we are unable to settle them. Until the debt restructuring is completed none of the politicians or any other person will be able to practically settle any loans," he said.
"However, the State Development and Construction Corporation (SD&CC) came forward and repaired the bridge in 10 days. The bridge was built using used metal, he added.
Minister Gunawardana said the bridge at Wellawatta has also been scheduled to be completed in six months and handed over to the public. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)