A BRIDGE OF HOPE: A Lifeline for Sri Lanka’s Struggling Villages

COLOMBO (News 1st)- A dream came true for hundreds of people in the two villages of Koleyaya and Eldeniya in Rideemaliyadda in the Badulla district deep in the heart of Sri Lanka, as the 'Gammadda Unity Bridge' was ceremonially opened and presented to the people today.

The Managing Director of Speedmark Transportation Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Sunil Malawana and the Leader of the Gammadda Movement, Chevaan Daniel, unveiled the Gammadda Unity Bridge, as the cheers and excitement of all the area residents filled the air. For them, this bridge is more than a simple structure. It represents a new pathway - a route to opportunity, security and one where they do not have to risk their lives daily just to reach the other side of the river. 

For as long as they could remember, over 600 residents of the three villages, most of them farmers, faced a daily struggle, having no proper bridge to cross the Kuda Oya River, which flows through the area. Each day was a struggle for them, finding makeshift methods to make their way across. 

During the rainy season, it was a perilous journey. Schoolchildren, elders, and others alike risked their safety to cross the river, braving the currents. The alternative route for children to reach their school was a 12 km long detour, which exhausted them even before reaching the classroom. 

For farmers in the area, the lack of a bridge wasn't merely a missing piece of infrastructure. It was a threat to their livelihoods. After toiling hard for months to reap a considerable harvest they looked forward to bringing it to the market, hoping to fetch a fair price for their efforts. The challenge of navigating across the river threatened the quality and safety of their produce. 

'Gammadda', Sri Lanka's largest rural community development initiative, identified this urgent need and saw an opportunity to give these communities a better life. The story of these villages and their daily struggle first came to light during the Gammadda 'Door to Door' initiative. Through this program Gammadda teams explored the length and breadth of Sri Lanka to identify, highlight and address the many hardships endured every day by ordinary Sri Lankans. 

The foundation stone to construct a brand new bridge was laid only a few months ago with the generous financial aid of Speedmark Transportation Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. 

The unbounded joy of the people of Rideemaliyadda, Koleyaya, and Eldeniya today was a powerful reminder of why Gammadda was born - to be of service for the people, by the people.