Another Kinniya Ferry Tragedy waiting to happen?

Another Kinniya Ferry Tragedy waiting to happen?

by Zulfick Farzan 06-09-2022 | 8:36 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st);  It's been almost a year since the Kinniya Ferry Tragedy, unfortunately no action seems to have been taken to prevent another disaster.

On the 23rd of November 2021, a ferry accident in Kurinjankarni Lagoon in Kinniya, located in the Trincomalee District claimed the lives of nine school children.

It's been almost a year since the Kinniya Ferry Tragedy took place, and since then multiple ministers had placed a foundation stone for the construction of a bridge, and unfortunately, this is yet to materialize.

The Sri Lanka Navy was deployed to operate a Transport Ferry across the Kurinjankarni Lagoon in Kinniya, however, the construction of a solid bridge to cross the lagoon remains limited to a foundation stone.

The Transport Ferry is also not in operation, and Sri Lanka Navy said the service was suspended as the number of people using the ferry dropped.

Due to the ongoing fuel crisis in Sri Lanka buses do not operate in the area, forcing children to take the long way to school, and this too, puts their lives at risk while using a damaged bridge.

The Divisional Secretary said that he was informed by the Road Development Authority that the construction of a new bridge was temporarily suspended due to the current status of the country.

Is the construction delayed, until a similar tragedy takes place claiming more lives?