Pigeon Island: Troubled bridge collapses together with promise to build new one

Several people suffered minor injuries when the bridge connecting the temple on Pigeon Island ( Paravi Doopatha) to the mainland in Matara collapsed on Friday. The bridge, constructed by the late Minister Mangala Samaraweera, had been in a dilapidated condition for years.

Matara District Parliamentarian and District Deve l o p m e n t C o m m i t t e e Chairman Nipuna Ranawaka had promised more than a year ago that a new bridge would be constructed connecting the islet to the mainland.

His own official Facebook page carried a post and images of him visiting the bridge with Minister Chamal Rajapaksa in January last year. Mr Ranawaka had claimed in the post that a new bridge would be constructed on the site immediately.

Yet, when the dilapidated bridge finally collapsed on Friday with dozens of people still on it, there was no sign of a new bridge.