Sangupiddy to facilitate Northern economic boom

The opening of the new Sangupiddy Bridge which connects Pooneryn in the mainland and the Jaffna peninsula will hereafter facilitate passengers and goods transportion from the South to North and vice versa promoting trade and commerce in the North, spokesperson for the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna said.

He said the commissioning of the bridge will further strengthen good relations between the North and South while supporting to uplift the economic standard of the public in many ways which is another historic measure taken to make our country the Miracle of Asia.
He further said that especially, people in Pooneryn area will find easy access to Chavakachcheri hospital which was recently equipped with many medical facilities under the Government’s Northern Development Program or even to Jaffna Teaching hospital.
The spokesman added that in the same way, Jaffna Hindus and Catholics who used to go to Thiruketheeswaram and the Madhu church can resume their journey using the new bridge. On the other hand, agriculture in Pooneryn popularly known as the granary of the North, and Mannar which encompasses the Rice Bowl, will flourish in days to come with the completion of construction.
Completion of the bridge on the A-32 road provides an alternative route from Colombo to Jaffna via Chilaw, Puttalam, Silavathurai, Mannar, Pooneryn, Kerathivu and Navatkuli. The new iron bridge which cost the Government about Rs 1,037 million is another phase of the Jaffna Development Project under the Uthuru Wasanthaya or Wadakkin Wasantham program initiated by the Government. The 288 m long bridge with a width of 7.4 m cuts short the traveling distance from Puttalam by about 80 km.
Earlier, the residents in nearby areas travelled via Sangupiddy using a ferry service. However, they were deprived of the ferry facility after the terrorists destroyed the famous Sangupiddy jetty in the early 90s. Civilians had to spend many hours travelling an extra mileage to reach both ends lying within a six kilometres.
Moreover, this engineering marvel which was completed within eight-12 months will make history as a peace building bridge.
Various governments under various political parties and leaders have attempted to construct the Sangupiddy bridge at 17 occasions by laying foundation stones. But all those attempts were confined only to foundation stones until the Government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa took a historical leap to complete the construction within a short period to uplift the living standard of the people in the North. Former Minister M Thiruchelvam also attempted to construct the same bridge but proved unsuccessful.

Source:http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/01/25/news27.asp