Dutch aid to replace Udawela-Akarella Bridge

A new bridge will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1,680 million under the financial assistance of the Netherlands government to replace the 110 year old Udawela-Akarella Bridge.

This new bridge will be constructed under the Rural Bridges Project, implemented by the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government led by State Minister Janaka Wakkambura.

The construction was inaugurated under the patronage of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardhana on the invitation of MP Muditha Priyashanti De Soysa.

The construction of this new bridge is expected to be completed within the next 6 months. The width of the bridge is 23 feet and will have two lanes. Roads and bridges are built by loans obtained from foreign countries. The government has launched a three-pronged concessional debt restructuring package to repay US$ 36 billion of foreign debt.

The package will be implemented in three phases: 5-6 years, 6-20 years, and beyond 20 years.

After we sign these loan repayment agreements by the end of next month, we will resume several development work including the repairing and rehabilitation of all broken and damaged bridges that have been halted by now. Under the existing funds, 1,500 square kilometres of roads will be carpeted this year. In order to implement these activities Rs. 20 billion will be given to State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura and MP Muditha De Soysa from my Ministry said Dr. Gunawardhana.

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