July 02, Colombo: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday opened the new bridge across Arugam Bay, its flagship tsunami reconstruction project, in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

US Embassy in Colombo said the US $10 million worth 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. The bridge was constructed with a new technology that is a first in Sri Lanka. The design was a combination of steel and concrete that made the bridge less expensive, faster to build, and more durable.