Manampitiya Bridge, Road-rail bridge in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka.
Manampitiya Bridge is a road-rail bridge spanning the Mahaweli River with separate structures for train and vehicle traffic. The crossing features a dedicated railway deck and a wider roadway, each designed for their specific transportation function.
The original steel bridge was completed in 1922 during British colonial rule and served as the main link between the eastern and central regions for more than eight decades. A newer structure later replaced the historic crossing to meet increasing transportation demands.
The bridge has become a symbol of national progress and appears on the Sri Lankan 50 rupee banknote as a mark of its importance to the country. This recognition reflects how the structure represents development and connectivity for local people.
The bridge has army checkpoints at each end, so visitors should be prepared for security checks when crossing. The best time to cross is during normal traffic hours when both the road and railway are actively in use.
The current bridge structure opened in 2007 after the original crossing had reached the limits of what it could handle. International support helped fund this replacement, making it a significant upgrade to provincial connectivity.
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