ERECT A BRIDGE ACROSS THE KATUPILA AREA IN YALA FOR PADA YATHRA - 2018

Thousands of earnest devotees hailing from all communities specially Tamil Hindus are undertaking the annual Pada Yatra or foot pilgrimage through Yala National Park to Katharagama during Esala festival that commence in the month of July every year. The Katharagama Pada Yatra traditionally starts from Nallur and Selva Sannidhi Murugan Kovils in the Jaffna peninsula where pilgrimage may take approximately two months to reach Katharagama. During this event pilgrims used to reach the destination with a lot of hardships. Therefore, it is essential to provide required assistance to the participants in order to ensure the safety and security during the journey within the respective AOR.

Hence, with the direction of the Commander Security Forces (central), Major General G R H Dias VSV USP ndc psc IG and the supervision of 122 Brigade of Security Forces (central), 6 Fd Engineers Regiment erected a Bridge across the KATUPILA ARA at GR 845311 of Meter Grid Map No 84 YALA from 25 to 27 June 2018. Further, the troops under command to 122 Brigade also provided their assistance. The aim of constructing this bridge was to facilitate the convenient movement of the pilgrims and mobility of the vehicles such as Ambulances, Water Bowsers and other vehicles utilized for the other important administration matters pertinent to the subjected event.