Karannagoda said it was vital to implement the guide and if Sri Lanka had quickly settled compensation people would have been more willing to give up their lands.

"In some cases the land is kept to give as a dowry for their daughter," Karannagoda said. "In my opinion we should give 150 dollars to a land that is worth 100 dollars."

Quick redress of grievances helped complete projects quickly and reduce cost escalations, officials said. There were social and environmental concerns raised by affected people as well as complaints about delays of paying assessed compensation.

Sri Lanka's environmentalists are currently protesting a new road being cut through the island's Wilpattu natural reserve by the state.

When ADB funds a project it will also entertain complaints if the complainant has first gone to the Sri Lankan authorities and had not received redress. The RDA has set up several levels of grievance handling mechanisms including mediation boards.

"ADB is very sensitive to grievances," S Meihandan, additional director general (projects) of Sri Lanka's road development authority said.

"The country director has himself addressed letters to us. We have responded case by case."

He said the RDA itself had resolved 92 percent of 2,432 complaints received by it related to the Southern highway.

ADB's safeguard specialist Jayantha Perera said a grievance process should be in place before a project started. Officials should be ready to listen to people, he said.

Sri Lanka had made a practice of acquiring land as an 'emergency' using section 38 of the road development law. A 24 hour acquisition of land left no room for consultation he said.

"One person told me, 'When you are taking my land by force, using your powers why should I give it you on a platter like giving flowers",' Perera recalled.

(LBO)