Re-development of Mahanama bridge inaugurated

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera thanked the Korean Government for their aid to re-develop the Mahanama Bridge in Matara town.

The Minister laid the foundation stone to inaugurate the re-development of the bridge on Wednesday. The Korean Government granted US$ 15 million Samaraweera assured that a golden era will dawn upon the people of Matara with the fruition of Mahinda Chintana.

He thanked President Mahinda Rajapakse for initiating aid from the Government of Korea for the re-development of the bridge. The Minister said the surplus which may be around US$ 8 million will be utilised to establish a fully fledged Hospital to accommodate 1000 beds for the benefit of people of Matara.

He also thanked the Korean Government for their help.

The bridge, when re-developed will have twice the space for traffic and allow the passage of more vehicles across the bridge. Korean Ambassador Lym Jey Heng, Road Development Authority Chairman M. B. S. Fernando, Matara District Secretary Gamini Jayasekera and Matara Reconstruction Committee Chairman Dr. Krishan Deheragoda participated.