Steps to be taken to provide seventy five thousand new water connections immediately in Colombo District...
The National Operating Room Committee has decided to extend the deadline until 31st of December to complete the Ambatale Water Supply System improvement and Energy Saving Project, which aims to provide seventy five thousand new water connections in the Colombo district.
When the National Operations Room Committee met at the Temple Trees, the matters were discussed related to Ambatale Water Supply System Improvement and Energy Saving Project, payment of arrears of Central Expressway (Part 2) from Mirigama to Kurunegala, reconstruction and widening of 19 dilapidated bridges, and Vehicle Emission Test Trust Fund of the Department of Motor Traffic.
Although an additional period of sixty months has been given beyond the agreed period to provide the benefits of the Ambatale Water Supply System Improvement and Energy Saving Project, which was started with the aim of improving the water supply in the city of Colombo, due to the inability to carry out the remaining activities of eighteen percent of the project, it was emphasized that the relevant officials have not fulfilled their responsibilities.
Accordingly, it was stressed that it is the responsibility of the Water Supply Board to complete the project by 31st December and to take steps to provide its benefits to the people.
The committee also decided to prepare a report on the bills and arrears of the Central Expressway (Part 2) from Mirigama to Kurunegala and to start negotiations to settle the amount and to make an agreement to pay the arrears in installments without interest. It was also emphasized that a Cabinet Sub-committee is required in that regard.
Since this section of the expressway is currently in use, much attention was paid to the reason for the financial variation.
It was also identified that 19 dilapidated bridges belonging to six provinces that have not been repaired in the recent past within the national highway system that belong to the Road Development Authority, should also be renovated urgently.
The need to provide domestic or foreign financial sources was emphasized as the amount allocated to the Ministry for the year 2024 is not sufficient for renovation of bridges.
These bridges were last repaired seventy or eighty years ago. Although 9.8 billion is required for the renovation of bridges, it is difficult to allocate funds at this time, and therefore, it was decided to present the matter to the Cabinet of Ministers to get funds allocated.
The National Operating Room Committee has previously instructed to consult with all parties and make recommendations to enable the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to be given to run the Emissions Trust Fund and to run a Project Office under the Transport Commissioner’s Offices.
The Cabinet of Ministers has previously given a decision to re-submit the recommendations given by the National Operations Room after discussing with the relevant parties.
Accordingly, the progress of the implementation of the decisions taken in consultation with the Secretaries of the relevant Ministries and parties were discussed at the meeting.
It was decided to get the observations and recommendations of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security which have not yet been submitted regarding the re-establishment of the Emissions Trust Fund and to reconsider the observations and recommendations submitted by the Ministries of Transport and Highways and Environment regarding the re-establishment of the Vehicle Emissions Trust Fund, and to inform the Cabinet of Ministers about the final decision with this regard.
Prime Minister’s Media