One of the largest development projects in the works is the renovation of Sri Lanka’s railways. While this is a more than laudable attempt to improve accessibility, it seems that small but crucial details may have been overlooked with regard to rail maintenance.
Painting the railway might seem like a mere afterthought, simply something to make [...]
Changing scenes from Colombo Fort to Jaffna
N. Senthilkumaran takes an ‘armchair train ride’, a compilation of many trips made in the 1980s and early 1990 from Colombo Fort to Jaffna/Kankasanthurai (KKS) on the Yal Devi
Colombo Fort Station; 5.30 a.m.
In the pre-dawn darkness, I move past the ticket checker and look for the platform from [...]
The history which flows along with Udarata Menike is as long as its journey on the tracks. The railway was incepted by the British in the 18th century with the main purpose of transporting goods, mainly the tea from the plantations and the imported goods to the up country.
Many historically, traditionally, politically, socially and agriculturally [...]
Tribute to Mr. B. D. Rampala Who modernized the Ceylon Railways
(The fifteenth death anniversary falls on 21st July 2009)
A briet history of the Ceylon Railways, that commenced in 1862 for the transport of tea and coffee from the hill country to Colombo port at an average speed of 30mph, will enlighten the readers, on the [...]
The whole of Sri Lanka—North, East, West, and South—is united by a band of steel: the Railway. Alas, over the years it has been badly neglected and left to rust its way to oblivion. It connects the ports of Colombo, Trincomalee, Galle and Kankesanturai. It also connects Talaimannar and Batticaloa, Puttalam and Matara. It penetrates [...]
This article by Patrick Harrigan first appeared in Bhakti journal of Kataragama Devotees, Vol. 2 No. 1 of July 1991
Those who know Kataragama well—the swamis, bawas, and others who fear to speak any untruth—unanimously declare that Kataragama is no ordinary place. It is, they say, a very special enchanted forest where divine mysteries are revealed [...]
This article was first published in The Island newspaper in 2001.
The buck passes as investigation continue into rail disaster
The Kandy-Colombo Intercity Express — train number 30 — left the hill capital last Sunday at precisely 6.30 in the morning. When it reached Peradeniya Junction, it was 6.41 am.
At the scenic Balana station, about half-an-hour later, [...]
This article was first published in The Island newspaper in 2002.
Out of the four forms of transport systems available to us in Sri Lanka – rail, road, air and shipping’ we have heard about people saying that the National Carrier – SriLankan Airlines – flying our Sri Lanka flag very high, as it is flying [...]
