Plants removed, shortcomings covered-up and road declared open

By Padma Kumari Kankanamge

The newly carpeted road at Kalpitiya where more than five palmyrah plants were found growing after completion of construction, was eventually opened yesterday by Economic Affairs Minister, Basil Rajapaksa. Earlier: A sprouting Palmyrah plant A marking where an earlier plant had been removed Earlier in the week officials were seen making strenuous efforts to cover up all shortcomings. On July 10 the Sunday Times reported one palmyrah plant had sprouted on the newly built Palattaduwa – Talawila road in Kalpitiya which was constructed at a cost Rs. 36.3 million According to villagers an official who visited the road at a later date found as many as five more palmyrah plants had sprouted and removed all of them after marking the locations. Last Sunday the officials were again seen visiting the place. This time it was to erase the markings they had made. The Sunday Times learns that the issue was raised at a meeting with the Government Agent who ordered provincial road construction officials to be present when such constructions were underway. During the construction of this particular road, provincial officials had not been present. Accordingly provincial officials are now expected to be present when ever work is outsourced to the private sector. Meanwhile Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa during the opening ceremony said in other countries if a tree grows on a carpeted road they would treat it as a sign of prosperity, but in Sri Lanka journalists consider it as something wrong. “The fact that Palmyrah trees grow on a carpeted road in Kalpitiya is a sign that this is a fertile area,” he said.

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