Plea for bridge over Ma-oya, 28 years in despair

Ranjith Premadasa

ALAWWA: The suspension bridge over Ma-oya river that linked the residents of about 10 villages including Yangalmodera, Thambevila, Karapane, Wimalagama and Maddeniya with the main towns of Alawwa and Polgahawela was washed away in floods 28 years ago.

Political leaders under different regimes laid the foundation stones three times from time to time to construct a new bridge in place of the lost bridge, but those foundations stones that were laid when elections were at heels yet remain rooted in the river bed with no signs of a new bridge.

People of various age groups and walks of life crossed Ma-oya over the suspension bridge to cut short a journey of over 10 miles to reach the main road leading to Alawwa or Polgahawela before the bridge was washed away due to floods.

But today they have a struggle to make their way wading over rock stones and through river water since the alternative method of crossing the river on a rowing boat is hardly available.

Villagers say that the boat cannot cross the river unless the water level is at least waist high and that too only five persons at a time. The boatman levies a toll of Rs.10 per person on each crossing. Hundreds and hundreds of people are coming to this point daily to cross the river in order to reach the main road to Alawwa or Polgahawela, they say.

According to the residents of these villages, on many occasions people including women and children have sustained injuries by falling into the water while making this hazardous river crossing and they urge the authorities concerned to provide them with a bridge in place of the suspension bridge that was washed away 28 years ago.