Rail services in Sri Lanka were commenced by British in 1864 with the inauguration of the first train to Ambepussa. Thereafter Railway tracks were extended to Kandy and to the central hills mainly to transport tea and other agricultural produce for export to the Port of Colombo, on which the country’s entire economy depended on.
Although [...]
The addition of 25 new railway carriages imported from China will now help augment the train services to provide a successful service to commuters.
We, as train travellers must be thankful to the Transport Minister for having redeemed us from the ordeal of travelling in packed carriages for ages. We await eagerly to enter these beautiful [...]
The Sri Lanka Railway Department hopes to begin work on the Matara-Kataragama railway line in the deep-south next year but stated that the estimated cost of Rs.30 billion needed for this project depends on the availability of government funding.
Speaking to The Morning Leader Railway Department General Manager T. L. Gunaruwan said that the Railway Department [...]
“Look at these new coaches. They are made of stainless steel. A proud announcement was made that it was to avoid corrosion on the coastline. If that is the case, all the railway bridges along that line must be made of stainless steel. Have you ever seen stainless steel ships? Why couldn’t they use aluminium [...]
The other major development projects envisaged by the Government are a second seaport in Sri Lanka in Hambantota and a second international airport. Railways are another sector where there is great potential for private sector investment in terms of developing a new railway system.
We are now carrying out a detailed feasibility study on establishing a [...]
May I refer to Tilak Fernando’s letter on Sri Lanka Railway (DN Sept. 28) where he states “Why doesn’t the GMR just walk a few hundred metres along the rail line towards the Regal Theatre and may be beyond…” and also “authorities responsible rarely if not, never travel by train but in the luxury of [...]
The Sri Lanka Railway Department’s General Manager Lalithasuru Gunaruwan says his Department will begin development of the Kelani Valley line next year.
The line, which runs up to Avissawella, will be upgraded using foreign aid.
Mr. Gunaruwan says that the thousands of encroachers who have set up houses close to the railway have already been told to [...]
The Sri Lanka Railway Department’s General Manager Lalithasiri Gunaruwan says his Department’s income is not sufficient even to fuel the trains.
He said the Railway charges a mere 48 cents per commuter per kilometer, while some railway engines consume around four to five liters to run a kilometer.
The General Manager further said that the number of [...]
