Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana told Parliament yesterday that the statement made by SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara that the nuts and bolts worth millions of rupees of the New Kelani Bridge have been removed is completely false.
He said that it is not possible to remove the nuts and bolts of the new Kelani bridge easily and that special equipment should be brought from the related engineering company if they need to be removed from the bridge.
He said that complaints have been filed with the relevant police stations regarding the thefts and that necessary legal actions are being taken by the Police.
He said only some GI pipes PVC pipes of the drainage system, some parts of the air conditioning system of the communication room connected to the bridge, and color bulbs fixed along the bridge have been stolen. The Minister said the total value of the stolen items from the bridge was Rs. 5.9 million. He said Rs. 294.4 million worth of items such as brass wire, GI pipes, and lamp posts of the Colombo Katunayake Expressway had been stolen.
He said brass wires of the electric cable system of the Katunayake Expressway had been stolen during the power crisis and Covid-19 lockdown period between September 2021 and July 2023 The Minister said that he had held a special discussion with the Inspector General of Police regarding thefts on the highways and requested his cooperation in suppressing these destructive acts. Accordingly, the highway police have been informed and requested to take necessary measures to improve patrols in these areas. A Police team has been deployed at the new Kelani bridge and nearby communication tower building and the relationship between the RDA and Police has increased by creating a WhatsApp group.
He also said that after discussing further with the President in the National Security Council meeting, the President has given instructions to prepare a special security programme by getting the support of security forces and private security forces.