Named with grim irony Samudradevi, or Queen of the Sea, the train that left Colombo Fort station shortly after 6am on Sunday for its regular run to the southern city of Galle was full even by Sri Lankan standards.
As many as 1,700 passengers crammed its carriages or hung from the sides. It was a holiday [...]
While the rail engine (591) severely damaged by the Tsunami four years ago had been re-deployed on Friday (26), after extensive repairs, railway trade unions said that an engine sent for repairs to DIMO Ltd., hadn’t been repaired due to negligence on the part of the administration.
For want of payment, it had been left there [...]
Although it was estimated that one billion rupees would be needed to repair the damage, caused to the Southern rail track, by the tsunami of four years ago, a group of railway employees volunteered their service and completed the restoration of the track, which experts said would take one year, in 57 days at a [...]
The colour light signal and communication system of railways has been further extended at a cost of Rs. 3 billion, Transport Minister Dulles Alahapperuma said yesterday.
“On the coast line, colour light signals have been installed up to Matara and are controlled by the main centralized control panel at Maradana. Colour light facility is available up [...]
Government and Non Governmental Organizations were busy with planning for post tsunami reconstruction projects and relief programmes including housing projects in the aftermath of the disaster on Dec 26, 2004.
However, the tsunami-stricken people in the South are not satisfied with many of the rehabilitation projects.The proposed tsunami museum at Pereliya was one such. Several thousands [...]
Residents of the tsunami affected area of Ratgama have requested Minister of Transport Dallas Alahapperuma that the train ‘Sagarika’ which stops only at Hikkaduwa, be also stopped at Ratgama to help more than 300 passengers travelling daily by this train to reach their homes at night without any inconvenience.
They requested the Minister to consider the [...]
Sri Lanka Cabinet today approved a proposal to upgrade the Southern Railway Line. Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has submitted the proposal to rehabilitate the tsunami affected Southern Railway Line.
The project to be funded through the Indian Line of Credit- Assistance from India would ensure a speedy and quality train service between Colombo and Matara, technology [...]
