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| Sunday, 21 September 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Ingiriyawatte : A village in suspense by VIMUKTHI FERNANDO Suspended... That is what their lives are, and what they had been, at least in the past three decades. Their cries for stability falling on deaf ears of the relevant authorities. And now, the children have to wake up two hours early in order to reach their schools on time, and reach home two hours late. The beginning of the school term witnessed two incidents where two children met with near death.
The queue hardly shortens in its length of about 15 to 20 yards, while two by two the children trust their lives to a suspension bridge, hanging precariously - leaning to a side, missing many a plank and with most of its cables needing replacement. Who could turn a blind eye to the concerns of these children? It was what inspired the Sunday Observer team to visit their village recently for more information and a closer look. "Danger" announces one board while the other requests two people should cross the bridge at a time and only one if carrying weights. In the vicinity is a cable connecting the two banks. "This is what we use in sending our produce tea and other crops across," explains a villager. It had been months since the suspension bridge at Ingiriyawatte, Yatiyantota, their only mode of connection to the main road, fell into disrepair. "If not for this bridge, life would be a misery for most of us," says R.P. Jayawardene of Behenella. "It (the bridge) is a blessing for all especially in times of trouble. When it comes to taking a sick patient, or a pregnant mother to hospital we do not have to fear, if the bridge is in good condition. Even in floods, this bridge had been safe," he says. "My prayer in the recent months had been that no one will need emergency care in the night in our village. It is so dangerous now. It is impossible to cross the river in the dark." Jayawardene is one of the oldest members in the village. A member of the Gam Sabha in the 70s, he had been spending his own money to keep the bridge in good condition. "When it was under his charge we never had any problem. It was well maintained," say the villagers.
More than 2,000 people use the bridge day in and day out. The bridge connects 12 villages of which eight are main villages with nearly 100 families in each such as, Kahatapanawa, Bahanella, Delgastenna, Kadjugahamulatenna, Pallewatte, Katulanda, Walehela and Pelena. Over 300 schoolchildren use the bridge while the number of government workers in the village who travel daily to Colombo is estimated over 200. Another 300 are employed in garment factories in the vicinity and use the bridge for their daily travel. In addition are housewives, farmers and others who may travel to the town for buy daily provisions and for other requirements. According to Jayawardene, the suspension bridge at Ingiriyawatte is the longest in Sri Lanka at its length of 340 feet. It had been constructed in 1951, by a planter M.G. Perera to transport his tea crop to the main road. The total cost of the bridge had been Rs. 3,000, where each village household contributed with five rupees and Perera donated the rest. And it had been a blacksmith of Kitulgala by the name of Wijehamu who constructed the bridge. "That design and the measurement is valid to this date," smiles Jayawardene. "Only adjustment is the increase of width by 2 planks, to enable two people to walk abreast instead of one person, due to the increase of population and frequent use of the bridge." "The population has increased to about 30 times more than it was at the time of construction of the bridge," says R. P. Siriyawathie, a teacher in Behenella Primary School. Therefore, the bridge is in need of repair, more frequently than before. During the past three decades, the plea of the villagers to the relevant authorities as well as the politicians had been for a permanent bridge. "When the politicians visit us during election campaigns, they come with permanent bridges in their pockets," comments a villager who wishes to stay anonymous.
At 3.00 in the afternoon, she crosses the bridge to escort her daughter back home. "If something happens to these children who is going to take the responsibility?," she questions, visibly angry. The authorities and politicians not only disregarded their appeals for a permanent bridge but also arrested the community's efforts in contributing towards a bridge of their own, says A.W. Senanayeka, originator of 'Shakthi' organisation. Shakthi is an organisation the community established in 1995 for the purpose of constructing a permanent bridge. "Every household contributed willingly, for our need is great. And our objective was to get a permanent bridge for the village by 2003. We had some friends overseas and NGOs who promised financial assistance for this task," says Senanayeka. However, a politician in charge of the village had taken the responsibility on to his shoulders. According to Senanayeka this politician had said that they could never accomplish it going around with a begging bowl but that it is his responsibility as a minister and member of Parliament for the area and that he would allocate money for the purpose. "However, nothing materialised," Senanayeka is disappointed. "In the recent past they went through the pretext of laying corner stones at three places, Bibili Oya, Madamodara and Thanakola Watte. But the bridge was never constructed," says Padmasiri of Ingiriyawatte. We visit the site at Madamodara, about 3 Km from Ingiriyawatte. "The officials and ministers examined the river bank. At the meeting they informed the villagers that this is the foundation for the bridge," says a villager in Madamodara showing what is said to be a foundation stone. However, we only find a board providing information about renovation of the main road. Taking a hint from Padmasiri that a plan was drawn by the Road Development Authority (RDA) under the directive of the present Prime Minister, in 1994 we meet K.W. Sunil Gunawardene, Pradeshiya Sabha Member - Deraniyagala who offers more information. "Yes, it was after the villagers presented a petition to the Prime Minister, when he visited Ingiriyawatte for the opening of a garment factory. Under his directive RDA officials drew up a plan and gave us an estimate. At that time it was estimated at Rs. 30 million," says Gunawardene. "To coincide with the drawing up of plans of the bridge, over Rs. 3 million was spent in constructing by-roads within the village to no avail, says P.G. Gunatileka. "In the past 15 years, over Rs. 800,000 was spent for repair and renovation of this bridge. This time we need Rs. 1.5 million for repairs," he adds. "Y.G. Padmasiri, a member of the Provincial Council allocated 1.5 million this time for renovations. However, this is not the solution. We need a permanent bridge. If it cannot be done with the money allocated for one year, why not construct it in stages?" questions Nandi Mahattaya who had been instrumental in repairing the bridge from time to time. "Some of the villagers spend their own money and time to keep this bridge under usable conditions. K.G. Somapala is one such person who fixed planks on the bridge this time using his money and time. A permanent bridge is all that we need. To develop the villages and to connect it with the outside world," he adds. As the last rays of the sun go down, we bid adieu to the villagers. Crossing the broken bridge in the dark is an arduous task and they escort us across the bridge. We went through the hardship only one day. But what of the people who have to go through this trial day in and day out? |
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