23 March 2013-President Mahinda Rajapaksa declare opened the newly constructed ‘Kallady Bridge’ in Batticaloa, w Rajapaksa replacing the age old bridge by Colonial rulers in 1924, during the times of Sir Willim Henry Manning.
The new bridge connecting the Batticaloa North and South, on the Akkaraipattu-Batticaloa-Thirukkondiadimadu road was constructed with the generous grants by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).
The total cost of 288.35 metre long and 16.5 metre wide bridge stands at Rs. 2.6 billion. The new Bridge will facilitate transport between Batticaloa and Ampara while fisherfolk and the agriculturalists in the area will be more benefited by the new bridge. It will also save much time of those travelling between Batticaloa and Ampara.
Brige being one of the longests in the country, crosses Batticaloa Lagoon where singing fish are found in myths.