Dilapidated state of Embillawatta Road

By H.M. Dharmapala and Kusal Chamath   

Embillawatta road off Dehiwala-Maharagama main road in Boralesgamuwa has been in a dilapidated state due to neglect of maintenance over a long period, while the people are facing hardship for want of other basic facilities.   

Residents of the area said a vast population in the area had been subject to step-motherly treatment from successive governments since long.   

A resident of Embillawatta, Bandusena Wickramarachchi said Embillawatta road which had been a gravel road that often turned into a muddy pool during heavy rain, was developed as a carpeted road due to incessant agitations of the people, but the need of developing the side drains had been ignored by planners of the project.   

“Now the road goes under water during heavy rain causing inconvenience to the public and extensive damage to the road. Flow of storm water down the sloping road had resulted in erosion of and weak verges. The side drains silted with mud prevents the free flow of water, creating mosquito breeding grounds. We are living in constant fear of contracting Dengue fever,” he said.   

A retired school teacher Sugathapala Wijesundara (68) expressed concern about the constant breakdown of electricity and the poor street lighting system. He said the electrical section of the Boralesgamuwa UC ignored their complaints in this regard.   

“When the breakdown of street lighting is reported, the UC advises us to call over at the electrical section and make an entry in the breakdown register. The people who go to work after attending to their household chores early in the morning and take children to schools and return home at dusk are not in a position to spare time to call over at the UC to report the breakdown of street lighting which is due to lack of maintenance. The UC that levies assessment tax is responsible for maintaining the street lighting system without creating hardship to the public,” he said. 

 
Residents of the area requested Boralesgamuwa Urban Council and other relevant authorities to effect repairs to the road, its side drains and the street lighting system.   

Now the road goes under water during heavy rain causing inconvenience to  the public and extensive damage to the road. Flow of storm water down  the sloping road had resulted in erosion of and weak verges. The side  drains silted with mud prevents the free flow of water, creating  mosquito breeding grounds. We are living in constant fear of contracting  Dengue fever 
-A resident of Embillawatta, Bandusena Wickramarachchi