Thondamannar Bridge

Thondamannar Bridge(Tamil: தொண்டைமானாறு பாலம், Thondamanaru Palam) is a road and pedestrian bridge on the Jaffna - Point Pedro highway across the Vadamarachchi Lagoon near the Valvettithurai town of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. It was built in 1953^[1] and destroyed in 1987, and rebuilt afterwards in 2004.

Thondamannar Bridge தொண்டைமானாறு பாலம்
Coordinates	9°49′0″N 80°10′0″E
Carries	Motor vehicles and pedestrians on the AB21 Highway in Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Crosses	Vadamarachchi Lagoon
Locale	Valvettithurai, Jaffna District
Maintained by	Road Development Authority
History
Construction start	1947
Construction end	1953
Location

The Thondamannar Bridge was primarily used as a barrage since the beginning of its construction period to prevent sea water entering the Vadamarachchi Lagoon that serves as a primary water source for several villages in the neighborhood.

The Barrage was destroyed in 1987 when it came under fire from the Sri Lankan Army.^[2]

The sluice gates before its destruction played a dual role not only preventing seawater entering into the villages but also allowing the floodwater flowing from the land-side into the sea during rainy season.^[2]

The bridge along with the barrage was rebuilt by the Department of Irrigation in 2004 and now serves the Jaffna - Point Pedro highway, a key link in the Jaffna District and the Northern Province.^[2][3]