President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed officials of the Ministry of Highways to complete the current road development programmes speedily. He stated that the construction of Sangupitiya bridge which connects Punarin and Jaffna should be completed by December this year.

President Rajapaksa made this statement when he met the Ministry officials at Temple Trees yesterday (21). The meeting was called to discuss in length the issues raised at the Northern Province progress review meeting last week in Wanni Security Forces Headquarters.

The Sangupitiya bridge which was destroyed due to terrorism is important for the economic activities in the North as people could save time and money in the transportation if this bridge was in place. Construction work of this bridge began when ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ programme commenced.

President Rajapaksa also instructed officials to speed up the Southern Highway currently under construction. He said that the public should be able to use this road by 2011.

Deputy Minister of Highways Mervin Silva, Nirmala Kotelawala, Secretary to the Ministry Wasantha Karannagoda were present.