Munchee assists renovation of century-old suspension bridge over Ritigaha Oya

Kiriporuwa suspension bridge at Pannala in the Kegalle District was renovated under the Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana, a CSR initiative of Ceylon Biscuits Limited, for the benefit of the people in the area.

The bridge is said be 100 years old and is used by over 1,000 people a including large number of school children daily. However, it was in a dangerous condition as the planks laid for stepping were broken and missing and as such people in the Hapugammana settlement and Ulwala and Kiriporuwawatte villages had to face numerous difficulties in their day-to-day life.

According to villagers, one person has died and another has become permanently disabled as they have fallen from the bridge while trying to cross it. This issue was initially highlighted by the Daily Lankadeepa, which published a detailed report filed by its area correspondent.

Meanwhile, the Munchee Field Sales Team in the area also brought the matter to the attention of their management and recommended the company’s assistance.

In response the company not only agreed to provide financial assistance under the Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana CSR initiative to renovate the suspension bridge, but also directed its area sales team to coordinate the task and make sure to complete it with the shortest possible time period.

As a result the renovation work was completed and re-vested in public on last Monday (14 March) in the presence of a large gathering of villages.