# Mawanella Bridge

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{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name         = Mawanella Bridge
|image               =
|caption             = 
|official_name       = 
|also_known_as       = 
|carries             = 2 lanes
|crosses             = [Maha Oya](/source/Maha_Oya)
|locale              = [Mawanella](/source/Mawanella)
|design              = [Arch bridge](/source/Arch_bridge)
|material            = masonry bricks
|length              = {{convert|70|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|width               = {{convert|7.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|height              = {{convert|4.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|spans               = 4
|complete            = {{date and age|1833|}}
|coordinates         = {{coord|7|15|1.5|N|80|26|36.5|E|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Mawanella Bridge''' ({{langx|si|මාවනැල්ල ගඩොල් පාලමේ ඉතිහාසය}}) is the oldest operational brick bridge in [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka). The bridge was built in 1833 in [Mawanella](/source/Mawanella) over the [Maha Oya](/source/Maha_Oya).<ref>{{cite book|title=Ceylon and Her People|volume=3|author=Fijjik|publisher=Lake House Investments|date=1970|page=76|isbn=}}</ref> The [arch bridge](/source/arch_bridge) has four arches, with each arch {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length and is constructed entirely from [brick](/source/brick)s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2017/12/29/features/138477/ancient-bridges-%E2%80%93-evidence-proud-history|title=Ancient Bridges - Evidence of a Proud History|newspaper=[The Daily News](/source/The_Daily_News_(Sri_Lanka))|first=Hideaki|last=Takaura|date=29 December 2017 |access-date=28 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=[Premala Sivaprakasapillai Sivasegaram](/source/Premala_Sivaprakasapillai_Sivasegaram) |first= |title=History of Engineering in Sri Lanka |date=2006 |publisher=Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka |isbn=9789559119029 |page=60}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2009/02/01/jun06.asp|title=Bridges old and new|newspaper=[Sunday Observer](/source/Sunday_Observer_(Sri_Lanka))|date=1 February 2009|access-date=28 August 2020}}</ref>

In 1820 the British commenced construction of the [Colombo - Kandy Road](/source/A1_Highway_(Sri_Lanka)), under the orders of the [Governor of Ceylon](/source/Governor_of_Ceylon), Sir [Robert Wilmot-Horton](/source/Robert_Wilmot-Horton). The construction of the road was supervised by Captain [William Francis Dawson](/source/William_Francis_Dawson). Five bridges had to be constructed with the road, one being the Arch Bridge over the [Maha Oya](/source/Maha_Oya) in Mawanella, the other four were the Ferry Bridge over [Kelani River](/source/Kelani_River), the Arch Bridge over Hingula Oya in [Hingula](/source/Hingula%2C_Sri_Lanka), the [Pilimathalawa](/source/Pilimathalawa) Bridge across [Nanu Oya](/source/Nanu_Oya) and the Satin Bridge over [Mahaweli River](/source/Mahaweli_River) in [Peradeniya](/source/Peradeniya). Construction of the bridge commenced in 1832 and was completed in 1833.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heritage of Sabaragamuwa: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites|author=Ec. Ē. Pī Abhayavardhana|publisher=Sabaragamuwa Development Bank|date=2002|page=54|isbn=9789555750776}}</ref>

The bridge was formally recognised by the Government as a [protected archaeological site](/source/List_of_Archaeological_Protected_Monuments_in_Sri_Lanka) on 1 November 1996.<ref name=Gaz>{{cite journal|title=Gazette|date=1 November 1996|journal=[The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka](/source/The_Gazette_of_the_Democratic_Socialist_Republic_of_Sri_Lanka)|volume=10}}</ref>

In 2005 a modern concrete bridge was constructed to the north of the historic bridge.

==See also==
* [Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara](/source/Nine_Arch_Bridge%2C_Demodara)

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:1832 establishments in Ceylon
Category:Bridges completed in 1832
Category:Bridges in Kegalle District
Category:Archaeological protected monuments in Kegalle District

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mawanella Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawanella_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawanella_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.