Bridge across Hamilton canal, a boon to residents

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The bridge across the Hamilton canal connecting the Mutupandiya island will be a boon to the people's economic livelihood. The bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs. 13 million allocated by the Economic Development Ministry, Divisional Secretary Arachchikattuwa, Shirley Thisera told the Sunday Observer.

Nearly 200 fisher families in the island faced immense difficulties to transport their produce and buy essential commodities from the nearby town daily. After crossing the canal people had to walk or use push cycles for nearly two kilometres. Schoolchildren were also inconvenienced, he said.

Thisera said that prior to the construction of the bridge an abandoned train wagon was used for vehicles to cross with difficulty.

The temporary bridge was washed away by floods due to heavy rains. The fisher folk in the island have breathed a sigh of relief as their long-felt need for a bridge has been met.

Mutupandiya is close to the Anawilundawa Bird sanctuary. The area can be developed into a tourism zone. Four small hotels are being constructed in the area, one in Anawilundawa and the other three in the Mutupandiya island. Another tourist hotel is also being constructed in Karukupona by a private company. While a hotel school is also being built by the same company, he said.