By: Staff Writer
January 27, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government has announced that a Netherlands-funded bridge project has been halted midway due to insufficient planning.
According to Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath, the initiative, launched in 2021 with a target completion date of 2024, aimed to construct 162 prefabricated bridges across rural areas.
However, only 101 bridges have been completed, significantly falling short of expectations.The project was supported by €70.7 million (Rs. 14.1 billion) in funding from Rabobank of the Netherlands, with 35% of the total cost provided as a grant.
Two agreements were signed between the Sri Lankan government and Rabobank for the construction of 200 rural bridges and the establishment of a national vocational training institute in Hingurakgoda, Polonnaruwa.
The agreements were formalized by former Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and Rabobank Director Han Bartelds, with the Netherlands’ Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Tanja Gonggrijp, present during the signing ceremony.
The government prioritized the “Construction of Rural Bridges” initiative to improve connectivity in underdeveloped areas and integrate remote villages into the nation’s mainstream development activities.
The program aimed to provide transport infrastructure to remote regions, helping residents access markets, medical services, and schools more easily.
The lack of adequate bridge infrastructure in rural areas has caused significant hardships. Villagers often resort to dangerous means, such as crossing rivers on ropes or tree trunks, risking their lives to carry out daily tasks.
In response, the yjen government initiated a 4,000-bridge program in 2016 to address these challenges, with financial assistance from the Netherlands and Belgium. Janson Bridging, a Netherlands-based company, was selected to supply steel bridges for the project.
Although the project was meant to transform rural connectivity, officials now claim that the earlier administration rushed its implementation, hastily obtaining cabinet approval without sufficient planning. As a result, progress has been slower than expected.
To finance the initiative, Rabobank of the Netherlands provided two Export Credit Facilities to cover 75% of the contract costs, with the remaining 25% covered by grants from the Dutch Development Related Infrastructure Investment Vehicle (DRIVE). This funding arrangement enabled the construction of approximately 250 steel bridges across the island.
The current administration has reaffirmed its commitment to rural development and improving national connectivity.
The project also aligns with the government’s broader goals of promoting vocational education and training to enhance youth employability and support economic growth. However, due to ongoing challenges and delays, the future of this ambitious initiative remains uncertain.
While the bridge program holds potential to alleviate the struggles of rural communities and boost local economies, its success depends on addressing the planning and execution flaws that have hindered progress thus far.
