Bridging the East:

PM to open Yan Oya bridge

Irangika Range

The new Yan Oya bridge linking Trincomalee and Pulmoddai constructed at a cost of Rs. 480 million will be opened to the public by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka tomorrow.

A Highways and Road Development Ministry spokesman said this is a great achievement and a clear evidence of the Government’s efforts towards reconciliation and development in North and East. The Spanish Government has funded the project. The bridge will enable the civilians to cross the Yan Oya.

“They earlier crossed the oya only by ferry,” he said.

He said the dream of the residents of Trincomalee and Pulmoddai areas has become a reality following the construction of the bridge.

The 150 metre long and 10.5 metre wide bridge was constructed on the B424 road from Trincomalee to Pulmoddai.

The public transport from Trincomalee and Pulmoddai will now be hassle free due to this bridge. He said construction work on the bridge was accelerated on a directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who submitted the Cabinet Paper as Highways and Road Development Minister in 2007.

Work on the new bridge commenced on June 17, 2007. This will now facilitate the transport of mineral sand from Pulmoddai to other areas and reduce the cost of public transport.

It will strengthen economic activities in the Eastern, North and North Central Provinces as the Trincomalee-Pulmoddai road (B424) provides access for these three provinces.

The bridge is being constructed under the Eastern Reawakening Program supervised by the Road Development Authority and the Highways and Road Development Ministry, he said. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was the contractor of the project.