Colombo-Kilinochchi train service from Sept 14

by Ranil Wijayapala

Arrangements are now under way to launch the Colombo - Kilinochchi train service on the reconstructed Northern rail track from September 14 to expand the train services which were suspended due to terrorism in the North during the past two decades, General Manager of Railways B.A.P. Ariyaratne told the Sunday Observer.

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to commission the Colombo - Kilinochchi train service on September 14, after its test run on September 6, from Anuradhapura to Kilinochchi.

With the train service up to Kilinochchi, the Railway Department hopes to operate three trains from Colombo to Kilinochchi daily during the initial stage. "This will include the Yaldevi train which was operated up to Vavuniya earlier, the Deyata Kirula intercity train which ran upto Medawachchiya earlier and the night mail train from Colombo", he said.