Nine Arch Bridge

Hundreds of thousands of passengers must have traveled by train the railway line that ran
from Colombo to Badulla. Not only those passengers, but many people say that the bridge between
Demodara and Ella railway stations is a work of art built during
the era of British rule. This 103-year-old bridge was built without
concrete. It has been built with blocks of stone and cement
without any strengthening iron or concrete. The giant arches take
the bridge on a curved path to link to mountains. The special thing
is a man called P.K. Appuhami, born in Welimada Kappetipola,
Pellavina, who does not know engineering technology, has
contributed to the construction of the amazing railway bridge
called “අහස් නමයේ ආරුක්කු පාලම”. Appuhami is a villager.

In build up the railway line between Ella and Demodara,

the English national engineer has planned to connect two
mountains near the 169th mile post through an iron bridge. People
said that the engineer was in dire straits and even tried to lose his life due to the reduced length of
the iron bridge that was brought. At that time, this P.K. Appuhami intervention of this project, the
bridge was constructed with an arched foundation on a foundation filled with mud and black
stones. The average height of the bridge is said to be 300 feet. P.K. Appuhami never went to
school. He is a farmer. He has amazing ability and talent to go to ‘thovilpola’ to dance and play
drums. Appuhami is said that the Sinhalese workers who built the railway line with Appuhami
worked together with the English engineer to set up bunds and strengthen the unprotected places
with huge granite embankments.

Finally, the engineer asked from Appuhami “Do you haven’t any solution for this matter
P.K bass?”. Then he was said that a bridge can be built if workers are given. The engineer was
expressed doubts about this. He has said not to pay wages for the construction of this bridge. The
engineer has deployed workers and rolled down the black stone blocks on the top of the two hills.
Big rocks rolling down the mountain at high speed have sunk to the bottom of the swamp. Finally,
a good and strong foundation has been created by filling the swamp with granite. The bridge is
beautifully built with an arch on the foundation made of mud and granite blocks and the railway
is laid over the bridge. This bridge was built around 1913. Although the railway was built, the

1|Page
engineer felt afraid to run a train there. The engineer has told the villager that there is doubt about
the strength of the bridge (railway). He has said that when the first train runs over the bridge, he
sleeps under the arch. And while the train is running, he has spread his sarong on the floor and
slept. As the train passed over the bridge, the engineer hugged Appuhami and expressed his
happiness.

Thanks to the intervention of Appuhami, the engineer who was happy with the construction
of the Demodara beautiful nine arched bridge has been paid for the time he worked on the
construction of the bridge. In addition, the engineer has also informed the Colombo Railway
Department. 'Eight bags filled with silver coins have been gifted to Appuhami for his services
rendered by the railway department. Spending a part of that money, he bought a car for his dear
engineer and gave it as a gift. Also, the villagers of the two villages of Erabadda came to their
hometown Pellavina in the car and gifted a silver coin with a meal for his villagers.

2|Page