Tunnel road connecting Getambe to Thennakumbura soon

13 September 2015 04:15 pm

Malwatta Chapter Mahanayaka, the Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, stressed the need for the government to think of underground roads as a solution to the frequent traffic congestion being experienced within the Kandy City limits and on the road circling the Kandy Lake.

The Thera, advised Minister of University Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella, who visited the Malwatta Temple to seek the Thera’s blessing, not to risk destroying the Udawatta Forest Reserve if the road planned to be built across the Forest Reserve was executed.

The Minister after assuming duties at his ministry, visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa on Saturday (12) and offered flowers to the Dalada Maligawa. He then sought the blessings of the Mahanayaka of the temple and revealed details of the development work planned for Kandy.

He cited the Colombo-Kandy Expressway as one of the immediate development projects to be undertaken by the government and explained the advantages that would accrue from it. He said with the completion of the expressway,the duration of the journey between the two cities would come down drastically.

He also touched on why the government had decided upon a new road as an alternative to reopening the existing road that runs in front of the Dalada Maligawa. He also told the prelate that they had planned to build a tunnel road linking Gatambe to Thennakumbura.

Ven. Sumangala Thera had emphasized the advantage of having Chinese expertise in the construction of projects such as the one planned involving tunnel roads.

The minister also visited the Asgiriya Viharaya and updated the Asgiri Maha Nayaka, Most Ven.Galagama Sri Atthadassi Thera on what he had discussed with the Chief prelate of the Malwatta Chapter. (J.A.L. Jayasinghe and L.B.Senaratne)