H. E. President and Ambassador MIZUKOSHI graced the inauguration Ceremony of the New Bridge Construction Project over the Kelani River

　The Government of Japan, through a loan assistance of about 35 billion yen (about 62 billion rupees), initiated the construction of a new bridge and elevated access road across the Kelani River in 2017. Today, the new bridge over Kelani River has reached its completion after four years. It is indeed hoped that this will improve the chronic traffic congestion on the Kelani Bridge, which has been a bottleneck to smooth traffic in Colombo for many years.

　The bridge constructed under this project is divided into two main sections. The first is the section leading to the port access elevated road, which was constructed using a relatively light steel bridge to facilitate the lifting of the bridge girders by crane. The other section is the new bridge over the Kelani River, first ever “extradosed” engineering design project in Sri Lanka.

　Ambassador MIZUKOSHI stated that the Government of Japan was delighted to have been able to transfer Japan’s latest bridge technology through this project and believed that the new bridge would make a significant contribution to the efficient transportation of people and goods which would further enhance the economic activities in the country. Further Ambassador mentioned that this new iconic bridge would be a symbol of friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka as well as a new landmark at the gateway to Colombo as two nations prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.
 

Photo Courtesy-PMMD