Arugam Bay Bridge

Arugam Bay Bridge
Update: Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter fired upon in Ampara
Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 15:51 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 01, Ampara: The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) says an unknown party fired upon an Air Force helicopter while it was flying across the Ampara area this afternoon.
According to sources, the US-built Bell 414 helicopter made an emergency landing at Arugam Bay due to a sudden loss of fuel detected by the pilots. Later, it was found that the helicopter had been hit with a few gunshots. The Air Force suspects that the helicopter had been fired upon while it was on its way from Ampara to Arugam Bay.
The MCNS said the helicopter had been deployed for logistic movements in connection with the opening ceremony for the newly constructed Arugam Bay Bridge. It had been returning to Arugam Bay after being refueled at Ampara.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa today declared open the new Arugam Bay Bridge, which was reconstructed with aid from the United States.
Presidential escort chopper in emergency landing
* Police say chopper hit by LTTE fire
by Hariscandra Gunaratna and Norman Palihawadana
An Air Force helicopter Bell 412 of the VIP
Squadron was grounded by LTTE fire soon after it had participated in a flight carrying President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his party to the Arugam Bay bridge opening ceremony yesterday. At the time of the incident the only occupants in the helicopter were were the crew, Wing
Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.
Two helicopters had left for Arugam Bay from Colombo, transporting President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his entourage to the ceremonial opening of the reconstructed Arugam Bay bridge scheduled for yesterday afternoon.
Nanayakkara said the aircraft which developed mechanical problems was the helicopter which transported the Presidential aides.
Police said that the Bell 412 had been hit by gunfire from LTTE when it was returning over the Kanjikudichchhciaru jungles and made an emergency landing in Pottuvil.
According to eyewitnesses the gunfire had hit the under carriage of the aircraft and fuel was leaking from the tank.
"Prior to President’s arrival in Pottuvil, the Tigers had fired seven rounds of mortars at the Sengamuwa STF camp but no damage was caused," a senior Police office said.
A team of investigators and engineers had left Colombo for Pottuvil at the tme this edition went to press.
Presidential helicopter convoy fired at?
Tuesday, 01 July 2008 18:47
A Presidential convoy of helicopters reportedly came under fire in Ampara by the LTTE this afternoon (July 01st) according to reports reaching Colombo. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Arugambay in Pothuvil to ceremonially open the Tsunami damaged Arugambay Bridge that was reconstructed with US Aid, earlier in the day.
One accompanying helicopter in the convoy had been damaged from the supposed attack, forcing it to make an emergency landing in a place close to the ceremony, reports say.
The LTTE had also fired artillery towards a STF camp at Sengamuwa in Pottuvil, causing extensive damage to the facility, according to reports.
When contacted, Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told 'Lanka Dissent' that no helicopter had come under attack in the area.
He said two in the President's convoy of helicopters was returning after refueling from the Ampara Air Force Base, when one developed a minor engine trouble and had made a safe landing to a location close to the place of the opening ceremony.
When contacted, Police Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara told "Lankadissent" he is not aware of either of the two attacks.
Lankadissent's attempt to obtain a verification from Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara failed at the time of reporting.
Tamil-net carries the report of the helicopter attack and confirms there were no casualties.

"We are determined to continue the efforts until the goal is achieved," President Tuesday, 01 July 2008
"The endeavour and commitment of the government is to ensure the victory of the people regardless of any challenge," said President Rajapaksa today (01).
The President, speaking at the occasion of declaring opening the newly constructed bridge at Arugam Bay, said that the government has initiated massive development programmes while liberating people from the clutches of terrorists and that this development drive cannot be abandoned despite many conspiracies including attacks on journalists.
He was referring to an incident that occured yesterday when a journalist and his friend were attacked in Colombo. The President categorically stated that this was yet another attempt to tarnish the image of the country at a critical time in its history and roll back the victories in the battlefield.
Speaking further President said that despite the difficulties confronted along the way, the Government was determined to continue the efforts until the ultimate goal is achieved. He said the Arugam Bay bridge was milestone of the Nagenahira Navodaya (Eastern Awakening) development programme and noted that this bridge will bring many benefits to the communities engaged in agriculture, fisheries and other industries. While expressing gratitude to the US government President Rajapaksa pointed out that unity was essential in order to obtain the support of the international community and called upon everyone to set aside differences and join the common cause of ridding the country of terrorism and
developing those areas that had already been liberated from the clutches of terrorists. The state-of -the-art bridge constructed at a cost of US $ 10 million, will replace the old bridge over Arugam Bay which was severely damaged in the tsunami.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided financial assistance for the construction of the bridge which has been designed and built using US technology. Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 )
I am glad terrorists targetted me and not civilians -- President
Thursday, 03 July 2008
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a special statement made through Defence Spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday (July 2),
said that he wasreally happy that the LTTE had targetted him instead of innocent civilians.
Minister Rambukwella, speaking at the weekly defence briefing told journalists that President Rajapaksa had specifically requested him to convey these sentiments.
In the incident referred to, a helicopter was fired upon by terrorists while escorting the President to Colombo after opening the reconstructed
Arugam Bay Bridge. The helicopter had to make an emergency landing consequently.
The President, moreover, had pointed out that he hoped the LTTE will continue to target him and not ordinary people, Minister Rambukwella said. Last Updated ( Thursday, 03 July 2008 )
USAID Completes State-of-the-art Bridge over Arugam Bay
Wed, 2008-07-02 02:23 Colombo, 02 July, (Asiantribune.com):
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today marked the completion of its flagship tsunami reconstruction project – the new bridge across Arugam Bay – in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapakse.
The $10 million Bridge is a gift from the American people to the people of Sri Lanka, and will replace the original bridge that was destroyed by the 2004 tsunami. The state-of-the-art bridge has been constructed by USAID in partnership with the Road Development Authority under
the aegis of the Ministry of Highways.: Minister of Plan Implementation P. Dayaratne; U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan Feigenbaum; U.S. Chargé d’Affairs James R. Moore; President Mahinda Rajapaksa; Chief Minister of the Eastern
Provincial Council Sivanasathurai Chandrakanthan; U.S. Agency for International Development Director Rebecca Cohn.
While expressing gratitude to the US government President Rajapaksa pointed out that unity was essential in order to obtain the support of the international community and called upon everyone to set aside differences and join the common cause of ridding the country of terrorism and developing those areas that had already been liberated from the clutches of terrorists.
"The endeavour and commitment of the government is to ensure the victory of the people amidst any challenge," said President Rajapaksa addressing the gathering.
"The government has initiated massive development programmes while liberating people from the clutches of terrorists and this development drive cannot be abandoned despite many conspiracies including attacks on journalists," President added.
He said the Arugam Bay bridge is was milestone of the Nagenahira Navodaya (Eastern Awakening) development programme and this bridge brings many benefits to the communities engaged in agriculture, fisheries and other industries.
Speaking further President said that despite the difficulties confronted along the way, the Government was determined to continue the efforts until the ultimate goal is achieved.
Arugam Bay Bridge ;
The US Embassy press release reveal that the design is a combination of steel and concrete, which made the bridge less expensive, faster to build, and more durable. This technology is often used in the United States, but has not previously been used in Sri Lanka. “For decades to
come, this bridge over Arugam Bay will symbolize the commitment of the American people to help Sri Lanka rebuild and grow economically after the tsunami,” U.S. Charge d’ Affairs James R. Moore said at the opening ceremony. “It will bear witness to our support for stability,
democratic governance, economic growth and development in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.”
USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn highlighted the community involvement in completing this project in her opening remarks, explaining that approximately 80% of the workforce was recruited from the local communities of Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Panama, giving local citizens
direct economic benefits from this project.
In addition, numerous meetings with the people and community leaders in Pottuvil and Ulla were organized to discuss the bridge construction.
“We are proud of the level of community involvement, which showed all of us that by working together, we could complete this very ambitious project,” Ms Cohn said. She also expressed hope that the new bridge will help boost the local economy by providing easier access for tourists to the 64 hotels in the Arugam Bay area.
- Asian Tribune -