Government accelerates new rural bridges with Netherlands loan    

Sri Lankan villagers faced with difficulties in crossing rivers to one area to another for their day today activities are to be relieved with the acceleration of the 4000-bridges programme initiated in 2016 by the good governance government recently ousted by President Maithripala Sirisena, officials said.  

Many villagers living in remote difficult areas have to face severe hardships in travelling one area to another across rivers for  selling crops, accessing medical services, and schooling for their children due to lack of bridges.

Some of them even risk their lives by attempting to cross rivers using ropes or tree trunks. Considering the difficulties faced by rural folk, the then government had entered into a project agreement with the assistance of Netherlands and Belgium governments.
A Netherlands-based company, Janson Bridging, will be supplying the bridges that are set to turn the tide for the inhabitants of Sri Lanka's rural areas.
However the present administration took measures to implement the project hurriedly obtaining the cabinet approval for two proposals for a project presented by the Netherlands and Belgium governments to construct 4000 bridges at the rural level last month, the Finance Ministry said.

The Rabobank of Netherlands has agreed to provide Euro 52.1 million financial assistance to construct approximately 250 steel bridges island wide especially in the rural areas.

S.R. Attygalle, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs signed this Credit Facility Agreement on Monday at the Ministry of Finance.

The Government has accorded high priority for connectivity improvement within the country with a view to providing full benefits to the remote villages from mainstream development activities in the country, the Ministry said. (Bandula)