• 302 RDA roads damaged; most reopened, others await NBRO clearance

In the wake of complaints from the Malayaha community that roads damaged due to Cyclone Ditwah in their areas remain unreconstructed, the Ministry of Transport stated that many of the affected roads fall under the purview of the Local Government (LG) bodies or private companies, but the Ministry would make necessary interventions. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Media Secretary to the Deputy Transport Minister, M.R.M. Rushdy said that several of the roads raised by the Malayaha community are under local authorities or private entities, and not the Road Development Authority (RDA). "However, the Ministry is prepared to mediate and carry out construction work upon formal requests from the relevant local authorities."

Providing an update on RDA-managed roads, Rushdy said that Cyclone Ditwah damaged 302 roads under the authority’s jurisdiction. He added that, with the exception of a few locations where reconstruction is currently not feasible, all affected RDA roads have been temporarily restored and reopened for public use.

“For instance, a road in Ukuwela in the Matale District was completely destroyed by the cyclone. Reconstruction in such areas is extremely difficult at present,” he said, adding the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) is closely examining the damaged sites.

He added the NBRO has identified a number of roads where permanent reconstruction can proceed only by strictly adhering to its technical recommendations, a process expected to take between one and two years.

Following Cyclone Ditwah, roads and bridges in several parts of the country sustained extensive damage. A World Bank Group Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report estimated total infrastructure damage, including roads, bridges, railways and water supply networks, at $1.735 billion, accounting for 42% of the country’s total losses. Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said recently that approximately $486 million has already been spent on rehabilitating damaged roads, with a further $486 million allocated for new road construction.