USAID completes State-of-the-art bridge over Arugam Bay

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) marked the completion of its flagship tsunami reconstruction project – the new bridge across Arugam Bay – in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The $10 million bridge is a gift from the American people to the people of Sri Lanka, and will replace the original bridge that was destroyed by the 2004 tsunami. The state-of-the-art bridge has been constructed by USAID in partnership with the Road Development Authority under the aegis of the Ministry of Highways.

The design is a combination of steel and concrete, which made the bridge less expensive, faster to build, and more durable. This technology is often used in the United States, but has not previously been used in Sri Lanka. "For decades to come, this bridge over Arugam Bay will symbolize the commitment of the American people to help Sri Lanka rebuild and grow economically after the tsunami," U.S. Charge d’ Affairs James R. Moore said at the opening ceremony. "It will bear witness to our support for stability, democratic governance, economic growth and development in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province."

USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn highlighted the community involvement in completing this project in her opening remarks, explaining that approximately 80% of the workforce was recruited from the local communities of Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Panama, giving local citizens direct economic benefits from this project. In addition, numerous meetings with the people and community leaders in Pottuvil and Ulla were organized to discuss the bridge construction. "We are proud of the level of community involvement, which showed all of us that by working together, we could complete this very ambitious project," Ms Cohn said. She also expressed hope that the new bridge will help boost the local economy by providing easier access for tourists to the 64 hotels in the Arugam Bay area.