A dream comes true: Sangupiddy Bridge declares open by President Rajapaksa
Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma
(Pix by: Sudath Silva)
A much waited Sangupiddy dream bridge which links the Northern peninsula to the rest of the country via Pooneryn declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday on 16 January. The Sangupiddy Bridge across the Jaffna lagoon connects Pooneryn from the mainland and Karaitivu in the Northern Province.
The Tamil Tiger terrorists who controlled the area blasted the bridge before their defeat decades ago. It caused huge disruption to the people in north of Sri Lanka. Before its destruction, thousands of people used the bridge daily. The government started the reconstruction of the bridge soon after the complete defeat of brutal terrorism in May 2009.
Sangupiddy Bridge was constructed under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya- Wadakkil Wasantham” (Northern Development Project) for the Northern Province at a cost of 1.3 billion rupees. The bridge is 288 meters long with two lanes. It took eight months to construct and the British government provided a soft loan. With the opening of the new bridge there will be two land access routes to the Jaffna Peninsula and after decades it is a dream comes true for thousands of people who used the bridge daily.
The Sangupiddy Bridge that connects the A-32 road from Mannar to Jaffna across the lagoon is the shortest land route to Jaffna from Colombo. The distance of travelling to Jaffna will be cut by 120 kilo meters than the way through the main A-9 Jaffna-Kandy Highway. It will also be possible to cut the traveling time by three hours. The bridge is also expected to assist the reconstruction and future development of areas in the North. In parallel to the construction of the Bridge, the Pooneryn-Jaffna and Puttalam-Mannar roads are also being reconstructed under the direct supervision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Pictures are seen here the aerial photo of the bridge and President Rajapaksa interact with the happy crowds who were there to witness the opening ceremony of their dream bridge. Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Douglas Devananda, Governor of the North Major General Jagath Chandrasiri, Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasooriya, newly appointed Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake, Inspector General of Police Dr. Mahinda Balasooriya, and senior government officials also were present.
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For more information read the following Northern Road Connectivity Project document available in the net
Sri Lanka: Northern Road Connectivity Project
Initial Environmental Examination – National Roads Component: Navathkuli–Karaitivu Jetty (A032) Project Number: 42254: May 2010
Prepared by the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils for the Asian
Development Bank (ADB). The initial Prepared by the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Environment/SRI/42254/42254-01-sri-iee-02.pdf
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LTTE destroyed the original bridge causing unnecessary suffering to the Sri Lankan citizens of Jaffna. Hon President has fulfilled his promise to link up the Jaffna peninsular with the main land through re-building this vital bridge, to ease the lives of people of Jaffna. The journey time to Jaffna is reduced by 3 hours, hence the cost of living also should be reduced as transport costs will be less. We are all happy at this development. Let us hope this momentum of development will continue free of corruption.
It is true LTT destroyed the original bridge. Now, GOSL should safeguard infrastructure from likely future attacks by dynamite vested young men and women who are lying in wait for commands from, heaven knows where.
There are many sleepers masquerading as born again patriots preaching harmony.
When develop road structure in Sri Lanka there should be better planning. I prefer that this bridge should contain 4 lanes instead 2 lanes. Eventhough done a good job but the future planning and reffering to real need is not there.
I hope in future, bridges will be at least 4 lane wide to meet the needs of the anticipated volume of future traffic. Planning infrastructure development should meet future needs and not just the current needs.
It is a great work. Keep it up. all the very best
Mohamed Shareef Asees