A volunteer guard has observed a water leak near the Ella-9-arch bridge on the upcountry Railway Line, which has won the tourist attraction. He says that the water leak can be seen during heavy rains.
The Railway Department has not officially made a statement on this. However, Railway General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara said that the Railway Department has not yet been informed about the incident, but that it will be investigated and action will be taken immediately.
This 9-arch bridge was built in 1921 between Ella and Demodara railway stations and is a place that attracts local and foreign tourists. This bridge is also the reason why the Ella Odyssey train, which has been running since recently, is popular among travelers.
However, the locals say that this bridge was built by a person named Appuhami Bass who lived in the area. However, according to the official evidence of the Railway Department, this bridge was built by Harold Merwood, the former construction engineer of the Ceylon Railway Service at that time. The story of Appuhami Bass is completely fabricated.