The Kinniya bridge which is the longest bridge constructed in Sri Lanka across a lagoon will link Trincomalee with Kinniya, enabling civilians to cross the Kinniya lagoon to reach Kinniya and Muttur areas. The 396 metre long and 10 metre wide bridge was constructed on the A-15 highway. It provides 7.4 metres width for vehicles and 1.5 metres for pedestrians. The bridge was built by the China Auto Caiec Ltd with financial assistance from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Irakkandi bridge will link Trincomalee with Pulmodai. It was constructed to replace of the old bridge destroyed by the tsunami. Spansing the Irrakkandi Lagoon, it is 300 metres in length and seven metres wide with two lanes of 1.5 metres for pedestrians.

The Spanish government had donated funds in support of the Mahinda Chinthana concept to implement a number of Tsunami aid projects.

The project targeted to spur economic growth in Sri Lanka while assisting local communities in the Eastern Province to restart their economic activities and recover from the devastating tsunami and the long-term armed conflict.

The two bridges were constructed under the Eastern Province Reawakening Programme to provide transport facilities to the people living in the Eastern Province who have undergone a number of hardships due to terrorism for the past 30 years.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently opened several bridges, constructed under the ‘Maga Neguma’ development project.

The new Katugastota Bridge which connects Kandy town, Matale and Kurunegala, was opened by the President last July 26. The bridge constructed at a cost of Rs.525 million was 130 metres in length and 20 metres wide. It was a timely solution to the problem of traffic congestion in the city of Kandy.

President also declared open the Arugam Bay bridge connecting Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Panama in the Eastern Province on July 01. The state-of -the-art bridge constructed at a cost of US $ 10 million, replaced the old bridge over Arugam Bay which was severely damaged in the tsunami.

The bridge which runs parallel to the old one, comprised two spans measuring 160 metres each, and offers user-friendly features such as protected pedestrian walkways. The project launched in August 2006 also includes 900 metres of paved access roadway and a water supply system for the Arugam Bay area.

The President is paying a great deal of attention to construct bridges with his concept of ‘Maga Neguma’ to develop infrastructure facilities in Sri Lanka. Construction of bridges in Kelaniya, Nugegoda, Bentota and Lathpandura also have already been completed under the Maga Neguma programme.