Kinniya Bridge, Kataragama | Things to Do, History, Tips

Kinniya Bridge, Kattaragama, Kataragama Overview

Kinniya Bridge is known to be the longest bridge in Sri Lanka having a length of 396 metres. It crosses the lagoon area that is surrounded by Koddiyar Bay and the Tambalagam Bay. It connects Trincomalee with Kinniya, It allows the civilians to cross the Kinniya lagoon to reach Kinniya and Muttur areas using the A15 highway.

The bridge was completed and declared open to the public on 20 October 2009. This was done by President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself. Before that, the Manampitiya Bridge was Sri Lanka's longest bridge. The bridge was made with the financial assistance of the Saudi Arabian government.

Things to Do at Kinniya Bridge

While visiting the Kinniya Bridge, you can take a look at the old and abandoned ferry towards the side of the bridge. Boats are available at the location. Tourists can hire a boat which will give them a ride across the lagoon and also under and around it. The boat ride is about LKR 600 per person. The boat rides take place from morning till late evening.

History of the Kinniya Bridge

The proposal to construct the Kinniya Bridge was put forward in 1978, but it wasn't until 2003 that the feasibility of construction of this bridge was considered and the Kinniya bridge was completed in 2009. The primary purpose of the development of this bridge was to re-open the Trincomalee-Batticaloa highway through Kinniya, which had been abandoned for more than three decades. It took about five hundred million rupees to make. This bridge replaced the ferry service that operated through the Kinniya Lagoon. Earlier people had to go through the lagoon by ferry, but now the bridge has made it easier to travel by road. The ship used to operate from early morning to late evenings and was able to carry several passengers and vehicles across the lagoon. It had its separate control station located a few feet above the deck.

Tips while Visiting Kinniya Bridge

The authorities do not adequately monitor the boat ride under the bridge. Tourists are sometimes not provided with safety jackets. If you plan to take the boat ride, please ensure that you take proper safety measures.

How To Reach Kinniya Bridge

The Kinniya Bridge is reached from Trincomalee, which is just 11 kilometres from the bridge. When travelling from Colombo, tourists can take a train to Trincomalee. The train journey is about 3 - 3.5 hours and costs anywhere between LKR 110 - 340. A taxi ride from Colombo will take about 4 hours and can cost up to LKR 10,000. Another economical way to reach Trincomalee is to go by bus. But the bus service will take much longer, sometimes up to 7 hours and costs about LKR 150.