MATTAKKULIYA BRIDGE: Bridges help mobility, provide communications, facilitate transportation of goods from rural areas to the city and multiple bridges help reduce traffic congestion.

While they contribute enormously to the national development programs, they also facilitate building bridges of ethnic harmony and cultural integration.

The Kelani River embraces the sea at Lansiyawatta, Hendala. Mattakkuliya Bridge was built over the Kelani River under the FIDIC Design is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. It is a gateway to Colombo via Mutwal Aluthmawatha en route St.Anthony's Circle at Kochchikade, Colombo.

It is undoubtedly a route to reach the capital city in no time. The commuters travel on Negombo-Colombo public highway to the Capital city via Peliyagoda and Grand Pass. This third bridge with a total length of 210 metres, including seven spans with an overall width of 11 metres foot-walk for pedestrians was seen as an answer to the traffic in the city increasing by 6 per cent.

It also helps container traffic to the north of Colombo and to clear goods from the Port conveniently. Present Transport Minister A. H. M. Fowzie as Minister of Public Highways and Muslim Religious Affairs in the People's Alliance Government of 1994 to 2001 took steps to commence construction of this two lane bridge.

The work was carried out by the Road Development Authority and the China National Automotive Industry Guizhou Import and Export Corporation. The bridge built at the cost of Rs.315 million was claimed to be a low cost project using labour intensive techniques by the Chinese Government.

The purpose of constructing the "Mattakkuliya Bridge", also fondly referred to as "Fowzie Bridge", by the public, where Hekitta village ends and the Hamilton canal takes its curve paving the way to Mattakkuliya as said earlier, was to help reduce the ever increasing traffic congestion on the main road.

The need for a third bridge over the Kelani river was identified as far back as 1978 and a Regional Structure Plan for Colombo Metropolitan was originally drawn by a UNDP. The proposal was to connect Duwa at Mattakkuliya and Bopitiya Road to Aluthmawatha, Colombo. This plan was revised by the Urban Development Authority Planning Team. And Minister Fowzie took steps to implement the project.

Though he could not complete the project he thought it was best to open the bridge before the General election which held in December 5, 2001. Thanks to him many vehicles move fast on this route today, though it is not a comfortable journey. It is not comfortable because there is no proper road network to reach Aluthmawatha passing through the Farm Road, crossing the bridge.

To make the best use of the bridge, one needs a properly constructed road. The Minister may have thought that he would be able to complete the balance work with the return of the PA Government. But it was not so.

The United National Front Government which took the reins did not pay attention to this much needed road construction. When the PA came back to power as United People's Freedom Alliance Government in 2004, Minister Fowzie did not get the Ministry of Highways.Thus the completion of the road construction across Mattakkuliya still remains the same.

Although vehicles pass through the temporary road constructed across the area to enter the `Farm Road'. The former `Koombi Kelawa' is now converted into a river side village with so called modern day shanties.

The roads are very narrow. Shanties have been built by the side of the road that gives a hard time to the motorists. There are humps at every turn. Muddy and dirty water runs along a stinking drain and garbage is dumped along the banks. It has became a breeding ground for mosquitos.

Bridge constructed on one side has not yet being connected. And there is a hugh gap to be filled to be connected. The passers by say it could be used as a highway some day. Although there is much talk of developing the road network it seems no attention has been paid yet to this area.

Apart from developing the present day road network there is once again talk about using the "Hamilton Canal" or the "Puttalam Canal" as a means of transport of goods. In respect of this attempt to use the river as a mode of transport, my humble opinion is, it is a waste of money on a futile exercise.

Others have failed and wasted their time and energy. But the best would be to leave the river for its present day use and concentrate more on developing the present road network including the Mattakkuliya-Colombo Road instead of dumping vast sums of money on developing the canal.

I turn to Trade and Commerce Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle as the Ministry of Public Highways now comes under this able and energetic Minister from Negombo. It would be better if the Minister could pass through this bridge one day to realise the importance of having a proper road network in this part of the Colombo city. (It is quite possible that the Minister had already visited the area and motored across the river via the Mattakkuliya bridge !)

The bridge over the Kelani river which with its easy access to Mattakkuliya has replaced a generations long boat service. If it was the original intention of the Government to reduce the traffic congestion and put up the bridge to its best use there has to be a proper road network. It is a must and something that could not be delayed any longer.

What is important is the present Minister in-charge started from where Minister Fowzie left to help the people who use it and those expecting to use it in the future.

If the Government is seriously thinking of using the Hamilton Canal to transport goods, it would be more beneficial to carve out a new railway track along the coastal belt cutting across Negombo to Colombo Fort via Pamunugama, Dickowita, Hendala, Paliayawatta and Mutwal.

It would not only help transport goods but also the massive crowds heading towards the City of Colombo and help reduce traffic congestion. (Incidentally the Railways come under a different Minister).