The Indian Government has pledged US $ 168 million to Sri Lanka to develop the island’s railways sector.
The financial assistance, provided under the Indian Credit Line (ICL) will be used to upgrade Sri Lanka’s coastal railway line hit by the 2004 tsunami and to strengthen the operating fleet of the Railways Department.
Though the coastal train [...]
The train service between Kandy and Matale established by the British rulers deteriorated after independence due to neglect.
The railway line to Matale was constructed by the British rulers to transport the cash crops including coffee, cinnamon and tea to Colombo. They first constructed railway line from Colombo to Kandy and augmented it to Matale in [...]
The government’s failure to improve the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) is likely to cripple the almost limping service, claims SLR employees.
Secretary, All Ceylon Railway Employees General Union, Sumathipala Manawadu is of view that unless the government initiates a programme to develop the railway service immediately the fall of the SLR is imminent.
“The Railway Department has [...]
