Kallady Bridge & The Singing Fish

The Kallady Bridge, also known as the Lady Manning Bridge, spans the Batticaloa Lagoon and is part of the Colombo-Batticaloa Highway (A4). The British built this bridge, which was named after the wife of the British Governor of Sri Lanka, William Manning. This bridge is the oldest and longest iron bridge in Sri Lanka. In the recent past, a new bridge similar to this one was built.

The Singing Fish Legend

The Singing Fish in Sri Lanka comes to mind when discussing the Kallady Bridge because it is the ideal spot to listen to these singing fish. Legend has it that on full moon nights, this musical sound rising from the water can be heard.

Batticaloa’s singing fish legend is associated with the bridge. In 1954 two American priests from St. Michael’s College National School, Rev. Fr. Lang and Rev. Fr. Moran, recorded fish singing under the bridge. The recording was broadcast on Radio Ceylon in the 1960s.

These sounds are similar to a guitar string being plucked. Listening to this music is best done by dipping one end of an oar into the water and holding the other end to one’s ear. Some attribute the noise to a species of marine life, while others believe it is caused by water flowing between the lagoon’s boulders. This music is best heard between the months of April and September.