COLOMBO, Sept. 21 -- India and Sri Lanka on Monday (21) launched construction of the Moragahakanda Bridge in Matale, the first of 13 permanent bridges to be built across the island under an Indian grant-funded reconstruction program following Cyclone Ditwah.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake jointly laid the foundation stone for the more than 175-metre-long bridge at a ceremony attended by Members of Parliament, senior Road Development Authority officials and other dignitaries.

The Moragahakanda Bridge has been given priority following a special request from the Sri Lankan government, reflecting its importance in restoring connectivity between the...