Construction of Manmunai Bridge and causeways inaugurated

Senior Adviser to the President and Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony of the construction of Manmunai Bridge across Batticaloa lagoon and causeways yesterday.

The Batticaloa District, a centre of the Eastern Province, is separated into western and eastern parts by the Batticaloa Lagoon, which extends north and south by approximately 50 km. Development and maintenance of infrastructure has not been implemented in this area for over 20 years. This causes the residents to have the limited access to the facilities of healthcare and education and is a barrier to the carrying of agriculture products.

The main transport facilities across the lagoon are small ferries at the moment. However, these ferry services are not available at the time of flooding every year, causing the significant difficulties in traffic and the living standard in the area. The lack of smooth traffic mode across the lagoon remains a bottleneck of local economy and society.

The length of the Manmunai Bridge to be constructed across the Batticaloa Lagoon is 210 m and its width is 9.8 m. The length of the east side causeway is 293 m and length of the west side causeway is 195 m. Total estimated cost of the Manmunai Bridge construction project is Rs. 1,870 million. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing Rs. 1,473 m and the remaining Rs. 397 million is being provided by the Government of Sri Lanka. The anticipated date of completion of the bridge construction project is May 2014.

Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo, Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council Abdul Majeed Mohamed Najeeb, Presidential Advisor Sivanesathurei Chandrakanthan, Deputy Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Member of Eastern Provincial Council Ameer Ali, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Highways R.W.R. Premasiri, and political representatives of the Eastern Province also participated at these occasion.