This handing over ceremony was held at Galle Face yesterday.

Acting on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa initiated the provincial road development project to create a good road network islandwide.

Under this programme, a stretch of 3,740 kms of road will be developed and carpeted in all districts.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 22,000 million.

The proposed development includes carpeting of roads, improvement of pavements, bridges, building drainage systems and replacement of culverts. The Economic Development Ministry has implemented a programme to rehabilitate and develop the irrigation system islandwide.

The Ministry of Economic Development expects that this machinery would help accelerate development programmes, especially in rural areas and also contribute to economic development and improvement of social activities.

This machinery was distributed to the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, Ministry of Agrarian Services and Wildlife, State Engineering Corporation, Road Development Authority, Western Province Road Development Authority and several other government institutions. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yang Xiaping, Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, S.M. Chandrasena and Wimal Weerawansa, also participated at this occasion.