Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today declared open the new Oddamavadi Bridge across the lagoon in Valachchenai in Batticaloa District.
The 250-meter long and 10.5-meter wide bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 770 million across the Oddamavadi lagoon lies along the Batticaloa-Trincomalee A-15 main road.
Work on the new bridge commenced on November 17, 2007 to replace the old bridge which was constructed by the British 86 years ago. he government of Spain and World Bank had provided the financial support for the construction of the new bridge. 
The replacement of the old bridge with the new bridge is expected to improve the market approachability and facilitate transportation at a low cost to civilians enhancing the economic activities in the Eastern Province.
Construction work has been supervised by the Road Development Authority and the Highways and Road Development Ministry.
Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, Ameer Ali, Governor of Eastern Province Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Eastern Provincial Council Minister A.H.M. Isbulla and Secretary to Ministry of Highways Admiral (Retd.) Wasantha Karannagoda were also present.
source:LankaPage