Villagers living on the island of Delduwa, which lies in the middle of the Madampa River, in Ratgama, are relieved that a political dispute among ruling party politicians that had threatened to stymie the construction of a much-needed bridge is close to being resolved.
The existing bridge, which connects the island with the mainland, is on the point of collapse; the concrete columns supporting the bridge are showing cracks, and coconut tree trunks have been put in place to prop up the sagging structure.
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| The Delduwa bridge is on the point of collapse; prefabricated material (below) for a new bridge has yet to be put in place at the island. |
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It is understood that the new Galle district co-ordinator Sajin Vaas Gunawardena had obtained President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s approval to put up a bridge, after he had explained that the Delduwa residents did not have a proper bridge to transport goods to and from the island.
The President is understood to have told Mr. Vaas Gunawardene that he too had visited Delduwa when he was Minister of Fisheries, and that he had requested the Road Development Authority (RDA) to install a new bridge.
Consequently, on Mr. Vaas Gunawardene’s initiative, six truckloads of prefabricated iron bridge were dispatched to Ambalangoda. However, as the trucks were unable to get to the destination, arrangements were made with the RDA to have the prefabricated bridge parts unloaded on a playground belonging to the Urban Council (UC).It is understood that the government official representing the UC had taken action to block the road and prevent the trucks from proceeding to the playground. The UC official said he was acting on the instructions of Southern Province Chief Minister, Shan Wijayalal de Silva.
The truck drivers called the RDA to report the matter.
It is understood that Mr. Vaas Gunawardene then wrote a letter to Ambalangoda UC chairman, stating that the bridge was an urgent necessity for the people Delduwa, and that it was being built on the instructions of the President.
He also said his initiative to build the bridge was to develop the district’s infrastructure and help marginalised communities in not only Ambalangoda but the whole of the Galle district. He said he was not seeking to gain popularity among the locals in order to further his own political career, and that the bridge should not become a political issue.
Delduwa is occupied by more than 150 families that have been living on the island for the past 30 to 40 years.
The Madampa river on which Delduwa is located is the border between the Ratgama and Ambalangoda electorates. |
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