Resumption of train service – an economic boost for North

By Gamini Warushamana

The 63-kilometre newly completed railway track between Omanthai and Kilinochchi will be opened for train travel shortly. A trial run on the track was conducted last Friday. Transport Minister, Kumara Welgama and officials travelled on the train to Kilinochchi.

The Ceylon Government Railways (CGR) and Ircon International Limited of India constructed the track and the Kilinochchi railway station.

It took 42 minutes to reach Kilinochchi from Omanthai and officials said that at normal speed it will take one hour to travel between Omanthai and Kilinochchi. Minister for Transport, Kumara Welgama said that it was a matter of satisfaction to the Government that they were able to restore train facilities and provide a good transport service to the people in the North.“We will complete construction of the track to Jaffna and to Thalaimanar within a short time. This is the first train to reach Kilinochchi after 23 years,” he said. The railway tracks from Omanthai to Kankesanthurai and Medawachchiya to Talaimannar were destroyed during the war against terrorism, Minister Welgama said.

He did not undermine the fact that the resumption of train services would prove to be an economic boost for the North.

General Manager, CGR, B.A.P. Ariyarathne said that after re-opening the track by the middle of this month, the CGR will extend the Yal Devi, night mail service and new intercity express train service to Kilinochchi. It is anticipated that an intercity train will reach Kilinochchi from Colombo in five hours.

The reconstructed track is a 63-kilometre-long segment in the Northern Railway Line project of 252-kilometres, which is being executed by Ircon International Limited, a Government company under the Ministry of Railways, India.

The project is funded by the Government of India under Indian lines of credit.

General Manager, Ircon International, S.L. Gupta said the completion and commissioning of the Northern railway track not only signaled the return of normalcy to Sri Lanka, but further cemented the good relations between India and Sri Lanka.

“Indo-Lanka relations have been further strengthened by the Government of India extending its support to the Government of Sri Lanka to rebuild the 252-km long track along with signaling and telecommunication work.

India has always been assisting Sri Lanka in its all round economic development,” he said.