News
Death-trap over Kolamunu Oya
View(s):The Kolamunu Oya bridge , on the Bingiriya, Urapoththa, Mela-Eliya road is in a badly dilapidated condition due to a lack of maintenance.
Story and Pix by Jude Samantha
The bridge is part of the by-pass road used by residents to reach Weerapokuna, Thossogama, Gadolwaka, Gal Wewa, and Mola-Eliya. The poor maintenance of the bridge for over a decade, has led to its present badly deteriorated condition.
When a side of the bridge sank, authorities placed a number of barrels to hold it up. Today these barrels too have decayed.
To overcome this problem villagers constructed a bridge made of bamboo and planks as a temporary solution to the damaged bridge.
Now many of the planks too have decayed. In addition and some of its supporting cables too have got detached from their respective sockets.
Recently a tractor fell into Kolamunu Oya.
The bus service which once operated in the area does not function now as it is too dangerous to use the bridge. Resultantly villagers in the Urapoththa area face a major transport problem.
Villagers are calling on the authorities to restore the bridge before the rains commence and the bridge totally collapses.
The bridge is now in danger of imminent collapse
Authorities used these pictured barrels to hold up the damaged bridge
Today even the barrels have decayed and are seen lying by the wayside
One whole side of the Kolamunu Oya bridge has collapsed and is held up with bamboo poles and ropes