Agreement to rebuild A9 signed

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 December 2002, 15:06 GMT]
Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement Monday morning at the Kilinochchi political head quarters to provide a Rs.600m loan to rebuild 103km segment of Jaffna-Kandy road (A9) beginning from Vilakuvaithakulam in Omanthai to Jaffna Town, sources in Kilinochchi said.

K.M.P Wijewardene, President of Sri Lanka Road Development Authority (RDA) signed on behalf of the Government of SriLanka (GOSL). Eight other officials from Private Contracting companies were other signatories to the agreement.

Participating in this historic event were Vavuniya Government Agent (AG), K. Ganesh, ADB's Sri Lanka Country Director, John Cooney, Representatives of LTTE including Ilancheran the 2nd in command to Poovannan the head of Administrative section, and Kilinochchi district Government Agent, T. Rasanayagam.

John Cooney speaking at the event, urged the responsible parties to diligently utilize the funds and to complete the project within the established time frame.

The A9 work is scheduled to begin in January 2003 and is expected to complete before the end of 2003.



A9 segment near Kilinochchi town

The completion of the road work will promote social and commercial link between the regions of the South including the capital Colombo with Jaffna peninsula in addition to making the journey for civilians travelling to and from Jaffna comfortable and efficient, analysts remarked of this landmark event.

The meeting also discussed potential opportunities to rehabilitate six other major arteries in the Vanni that link towns of Mankulam, Mullaitivu, Paranthan, Vellankulam, Mannar and Pooneryn. K.Ganesh, AG Vavuniya, said the ADB and World Bank are reviewing plans and estimating the cost of funding this phase of the road development.

Signing of this agreement marks the beginning of real implementation of development activity of areas devastated by war and which are within the adminstrative control of LTTE, officials attending the signing ceremony said.