A peaceful protest was held today (11) by social activists and local residents in the Dimbulagala area, demanding the widening of a narrow bridge that has been deemed unsafe. The protestors called for immediate action to be taken, and threatened to call for a change in leadership if the Minister of Transport and Highways, Bandula Gunawardena, does not intervene.
The protest was sparked by a recent bus accident in the area, in which 11 people died and the safety iron fence of the bridge broke and fell into the river below. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the bridge and those who use it. To prevent further accidents, a stock of barrels has been placed near the bridge, but protestors are demanding a permanent solution in the form of a widened bridge.
The protest was led by Atthanakadawala Janathalankara, the registrar of the Dimbulagala North Shasana Sasanakshakha Board, who highlighted the danger posed by the narrow bridge. Janathalankara was joined by a group of locals who echoed his calls for action.
The protest also drew attention to the wider issue of infrastructure development in the region, with the protestors questioning why two dilapidated bridges on the Polonnaruwa Batticaloa main road have remained unchanged for over a century, despite the construction of flyovers and other development roads in other provinces.
On the morning of the protest, North Central Province Governor Mahipala Herath, Polonnaru District Secretary W.A. Dharmasiri, and officials from the Road Development Authority visited the site of the accident to assess the situation and provide guidance to relevant officials. Following their visit, barrels were installed as a temporary measure.
The protestors, however, are calling for a permanent solution to be implemented as soon as possible, expressing concerns that further fatal accidents could occur if action is not taken. The event highlights the importance of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to ensure the safety of all road users.
