Kaliodai Bridge completed after eight years

After eight years, the new 75-metre bridge at Kaliodai, Oluvil, along the Kalmunai-Akkaraipattu road, has finally been completed. During the tsunami, the temporary bridge built at that location (while the main bridge was under construction) gave way and the road became impassible, causing grave difficulties in transportation of relief and other materials.

The bridge was reconstructed at a a cost of 50 million rupees with funds received from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) by the Small Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Upgrading Programme (SIRUP). The bridge was declared open by the Additional Provincial Director of the Road Development Authority, Mr. ALM Nizar, on the 23rd of August, 2006 with a simple ceremony to mark the occasion. The initial foundations were laid exactly eight years before this date.