Work on Lanka’s longest bridge over

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO: Work on the 170 metre Nilwala bridge, Sri Lanka’s longest railway bridge along the Matara-Kataragama railway line has been completed at a cost of Rs. 91 million, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

He said under the first phase of the project, 27 kms of the railway line between Matara and Beliatta was set up using the direct labour force of the Railway Department. Alahapperuma said Rs. 813 million has been set aside to grant compensation to families whose land had been taken for the site.

He said Rs. 156 million has been granted as compensation to affected families. Under the coastal belt railway line renovation project the Matara-Beliatta railway line will be set up with financial assistance from the Indian Government.

Minister Alahapperuma expressed confidence that the pilgrims’ dream of going to Kataragama by train will become a reality once the project is completed.

He also thanked the President Mahinda Rajapaksa for extending his cooperation for the project. Alahapperuma who made an inspection tour of the Nilwala Bridge site advised the authorities to expedite work on the Matara-Kataragama Railway line.