Colombo, June 7 — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed top officials to prioritize and accelerate the development of rural roads across the country, highlighting it as a key focus in the government’s ongoing transport and infrastructure initiatives.
The President issued these instructions during a high-level review meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat to assess the progress of projects implemented under the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, funded through the current year’s national budget.
During the discussion, officials presented updates on ongoing highway and transport sector projects, along with challenges hampering implementation. The President emphasized the urgency of completing rural road development programs, noting their importance to local communities and economic upliftment.
Among those present were Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena, and Ministry Secretary Professor Kapila Perera. Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russell Aponsu and Kapila Janaka Bandara, along with senior officials from both ministries, also attended the review.
The President’s directive signals a renewed push toward closing the rural-urban infrastructure gap by ensuring village road networks are improved without delay.
