Manmunai Bridge

Manmunai Bridge மண்முனைப் பாலம்
Coordinates	7°38′16.84″N 81°43′47.79″E / 7.6380111°N 81.7299417°ECoordinates: 7°38′16.84″N 81°43′47.79″E / 7.6380111°N 81.7299417°E
Carries	Motor vehicles
Crosses	Batticaloa Lagoon
Locale	Batticaloa, Batticaloa District
Owner	Ministry of Ports & Highways
Maintained by	Road Development Authority
Characteristics
Material	Cement
Total length	210 m (689 ft)[1]
Width	9.8 m (32 ft)
History
Construction begin	2012
Construction end	2014
Construction cost	Rs. 1,736 million[2]
Inaugurated	19 April 2014
Location in Sri Lanka

Manmunai Bridge (Tamil: மண்முனைப் பாலம்) is a road bridge in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. It crosses the Batticaloa Lagoon and connects Western and Eastern shore of the Batticaloa lagoon.

The bridge became the first east-west land connection between Batticaloa coastal belt and mainland. It reduced previous 30 km road access from other side and gives alternative road access to and from Batticaloa town to other areas of west bank of Batticaloa and Ampara District. Earlier, transport between the west and east banks was carried out by a small ferry through Batticaloa Lagoon.^[3]

Japan International Cooperation Agency granted 1,206 million Japanese Yen to Sri Lankan government to construct the bridge along with causeway as mark of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Japan.^[4][5]

References

1. "Manmunai Bridge opened marking another milestone in development". Independent Television Network. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
2. "Rs. 1,736 million grant from Japan for Construction of Manmunai Bridge across the Batticaloa Lagoon". Ministry of Finance & Planning- The Treasury of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
3. "Manmunai Bridge construction begins with Japanese help". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 20 April 2014.
4. "President to open Manmunai bridge in Batticaloa tomorrow". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 20 April 2014.
5. "President opens Manmunai Bridge in Batticaloa". News.lk. Retrieved 20 April 2014.