The government has announced a project to repair 14 bridges damaged by Cyclone Ditwah across the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, North Central, and Eastern provinces.

The People’s Republic of China has agreed to provide financial assistance for the initiative. 

The project will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase lasting 18 months to repair 9 bridges. China is expected to provide 7,929 million Renminbi for the repair work.

An agreement is to be signed between the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Chinese government. 

The Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, officially declaring the initiative a definite government project. (Newswire)

The post Cabinet approves project to repair 14 bridges damaged by Cyclone Ditwah appeared first on Newswire.

Indian Army Field Engineers have commenced restoring a bridge affected by Cyclone Ditwah on the road connecting Chilaw and Puttalam.

It is reported that the team from India arrived last night and completed their unloading at 07.30 am today.

They reached the location north of Colombo for site inspection and are expected to start working at the earliest. (Newswire)

The post Indian Army engineers begin bridge restoration between Chilaw and Puttalam appeared first on Newswire.

A 94-year-old man who had tried to take his own life by jumping from the Matara Mahanama Bridge last afternoon has been rescued by Army personnel.  

Troops from the 3rd Gemunu Watch Regiment acted swiftly and successfully rescued the individual, admitting him to the Matara General Hospital.

Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by the Matara Police. (Newswire)

The post 94-year-old man rescued after jumping off bridge appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Railways says train services on the main railway line from Mahawa to Anuradhapura will be suspended once again for a period of one month due to renovation work on five bridges on the said railway line.

A representative of the Railway Department said that the bridges, which are about 100 years old, need to be removed, and new bridges are to be installed, adding that five of those bridges have already been brought to the country.

He further said that the five bridges are being built with Indian loan assistance and will cost about US$15 million.

The Railway Department representative said that construction is planned to begin most likely after the Poson Poya Festival.

He also revealed that although the reconstruction of this railway line was completed at a cost of US $ 9127 million under the Indian loan scheme and the line was opened to train traffic in September last year, the construction of the signaling system has been delayed and due to the lack of signals, trains are currently operating on a token system on that section.

As such, a memorandum of understanding in this regard is scheduled to be signed with India.

He stated that if work on the signalling system begins within the next month, it will be possible to complete the work by mid-next year. (Newswire)

The post Northern railway line to undergo bridge renovation appeared first on Newswire.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake says design work has been completed for a new bridge to be constructed across the Nandikadal Lagoon on the Mullaitivu-Paranthan road, as part of the 2025 budget proposals.

During a visit to the proposed site at Vattuvakal yesterday, Minister Rathnayake said that the procurement processes for the project are underway and that construction is expected to begin immediately after its conclusion.

The total estimated cost of the bridge is Rs. 1,900 million, with Rs. 1,000 million being allocated in the 2025 budget.

The bridge aims to provide relief to residents affected by poor road conditions, especially during adverse weather. 

Vanni District MP Selvam Adaikalanathan and Road Development Authority officials were also present during Minister Bimal Rathnayake’s inspection tour. (Newswire)

The post Nandikadal Lagoon bridge : Update from minister appeared first on Newswire.

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader MP Rishad Bathiudeen has underscored the importance of collaboration and strategic planning to leverage Sri Lanka’s assets for economic recovery. 

Addressing the Parliament yesterday, MP Bathiudeen warned that without prudent decision-making, Sri Lanka risks falling into a deeper economic crisis despite its abundant resources. 

MP Bathiudeen stressed the significance of India as a key partner for Sri Lanka, particularly in terms of economic support and connectivity, noting the absence of discussions regarding road connectivity during the President’s recent visit to India, specifically referencing the proposed bridge between Sri Lanka and India, which had been a topic of previous administrations.

Highlighting the potential benefits of enhanced connectivity with India, including economic growth and tourism development, he pointed out that a bridge connecting Sri Lanka to India could facilitate travel and trade, benefiting both nations and improving livelihoods, especially in the Northern regions of Sri Lanka. 

To illustrate the potential benefits of such initiatives, he cited successful international examples of infrastructure projects, such as the bridge between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and the Channel Tunnel between France and England.

MP Rishad Bathiudeen urged the current government to prioritize constructive dialogue and strategic partnerships, particularly with India, to foster economic recovery and development. (Newswire)

The post Rishad backs India-Sri Lanka bridge project appeared first on Newswire.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced plans to construct 250 new bridges across Sri Lanka to enhance road connectivity and maximize the benefits of national development projects for rural communities.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the government’s commitment to improving the living conditions of people in areas connected by these bridges, underscoring the importance of ensuring that the benefits of economic development reach the poorest segments of society.

The President highlighted the government’s goal to reduce multidimensional poverty to 10% by focusing on rural communities and emphasized the critical role of infrastructure projects in rural areas in achieving this objective. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made the remarks marking the successful completion of 750 rural bridges by Janson Bridging International from the Netherlands from 2014-2024.

“We are here to witness the completion of 750 bridges constructed by Janson Bridging. This is a formidable task that they have successfully accomplished. I am familiar with the areas where these rural bridges were built. While bridges are easier to construct than highways, they were nevertheless constructed in remote and difficult places. These bridges collectively enhance the living conditions of the connected areas.

“Connectivity is crucial over rivers, over bridges, and even in terms of speed. This extensive network of connectivity enables us to transport goods to the main highways and send them to Colombo or other major cities. This project is significant, and we aim to complete another 250 bridges, making it a total of 1,000.

“Why is this necessary? The poverty rate in our country has increased from about 15% in 2019 to over 25%. We are committed to reducing it to 10% by 2032. The agreement signed with the IMF is not just about statistics; as the economy develops, we must ensure it benefits the poorest of the poor. Our goal is to reduce multidimensional poverty to 10%, focusing on those in rural areas,” he said.

Stating that connectivity projects like this help reach this target, President Wickremesinghe said the economic and social benefits are evident and that Sri Lanka will see the impact within five years of the project’s completion. 

The completed 750 bridges help in improving accessibility and fostering development in various rural parts of Sri Lanka, underscoring the collaborative efforts between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in infrastructure development.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to the government of the Netherlands for their support in this endeavour.

At the event to mark the completion of the project, President Wickremesinghe and the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka Bonnie Horbach were presented with a plaque. 

This commemorative plaque marked the 10th anniversary of Janson Bridging International and celebrated the successful completion of 750 bridges in Sri Lanka over the past decade. (Newswire)

The post Govt announces plans to construct 250 new bridges appeared first on Newswire.

The bridge across the Hulanda Oya on the Embilipitiya-Middeniya road, originating from the Kumbugodaara area collapsed along with a lorry this morning.

According to media reports, the bridge had collapsed between 6:30 and 7:30 am while a lorry loaded with timber had attempted to cross. 

Following the incident, traffic came to a standstill and the water supply was disrupted in some areas. 

According to area residents, the bridge, constructed in 1985 during the tenure of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa, had collapsed due to the widening of the road on both sides without proper maintenance. (NewsWire)

The post WATCH : Bridge collapses with Lorry in SL appeared first on Newswire.

The contract for the reconstruction of the pedestrian bridges across Marine Drive to access the Bambalapitiya and Wellawatta railway stations has been awarded to the State Development and Design Statutory Corporation.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the awarding of the contract to the company subject to the condition of completion within a period of six months.

The government said the need for the construction of temporary steps and immediate reconstruction of the pedestrian bridges has been identified considering the precarious condition of the pedestrian bridges.

Identifying the reconstruction of the pedestrian bridges as an urgent and essential construction, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport and Highways in this regard.

The dilapidated state of the overhead pedestrian bridge near the Bambalapitiya Railway station recently made rounds on social media, bringing the matter to the attention of the authorities. (NewsWire)

The post Pedestrian bridges in Bambalapitiya & Wellawatte : New Cabinet decision appeared first on Newswire.