• In the process of removing unauthorised structures on surrounding hills 

Following reports of a water leak at the Nine Arch Bridge during periods of heavy rainfall, the Department had initiated an investigation into the same. 

The Railways Department has confirmed that there is no issue with the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, and that regular inspections are being carried out to ensure its safety and quality.

When queried by The Daily Morning regarding its outcome, Railways General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara said that the bridge was designed with drainage holes to let rainwater flow out, and that it was normal to see water pouring through these holes during the rainy season. 

“There is a divisional engineer attached to the Department, and he, along with other officers, is inspecting it from time to time. There is no issue as of now,” he noted.

He further said that the Department would be taking steps to remove unauthorised structures that had been constructed on the hills surrounding the bridge. 

“The bridge is surrounded by lands belonging to the Railways Department and the Urban Development Authority. There are unauthorised constructions on some of those lands. We have already initiated legal action to remove them. The necessary conservation measures will also be taken,” he said.

The Nine Arch Bridge, located between the Ella and Demodara Railway Stations, was built in the 1920s, and has become one of the country’s most iconic tourist attractions. Surrounded by lush greenery and misty hills, it continues to draw large crowds of both local and foreign visitors.