Sri Lanka, Nov. 27 -- The Bentota Old Bridge spanning the Bentota River on the Galle-Colombo highway has collapsed due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions affecting the country. The bridge had not been in use since 2008, after showing early signs of structural damage. A new bridge was built to handle vehicular and pedestrian traffic, while the old bridge had remained standing but severely deteriorated over the years.

Originally built in 1902 by the British government under the design of engineer E.C. Davis, the bridge was a significant historical landmark and served as a vital link on the highway before being replaced.

The collapse has resulted from both prolonged structural damage and the recent extreme weather.

Published by HT ...