ComBank builds Kilinochchi railway station

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the Kilinochchi railway station, rebuilt by the Corporate Social Responsibility Trust of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, recently.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the opening of the Kilinochchi railway station. Commercial Bank Chairman, Dinesh Weerakkody, Chairman of the Bank’s CSR Trust, Lakshman Hulugalle and the Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, Jegan Durairatnam look on.

The Commercial Bank's reconstruction of this important station along the northern railway line is an acknowledgement of the major part Kilinochchi has played in the economic activities of the Northern Province from pre-historic times.

"The station in the heart of the Kilinochchi town, has been built with access for disabled people as well. The Bank also has constructed rest rooms and wash rooms with differently-abled access and built the station to standards stipulated by Sri Lanka Railways," a bank spokesman said.

The Commercial Bank has also installed an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at the Kilinochchi railway station. It is the 575th ATM of the Bank and provides 24-hour access to funds held in any of the 232 Commercial Bank branches and service points in Sri Lanka. The ATM machine was also opened by the President.

The President boarded the Yal Devi train from Omanthai.

The Chairman of Commercial Bank, Dinesh Weerakkody, Chairman of the Bank's CSR Trust, Lakshman Hulugalle and the Chief Operating Officer, Jegan Durairatnam, Minister of Transport, Kumara Welgama, Minister of Traditional Enterprises and Small Industries Development, Douglas Devananda, Deputy Minister of Transport, Rohana Dissanayake, Governor of Northern Province, G A Chandrasiri, the High Commissioner of India, Y.K. Sinha and managers of Commercial Bank were present.

Weerakkody said, "It is a momentous day in Sri Lankan history when we see the South and the North connected again through the railway network.

It signifies a significant step forward in rebuilding relationships between those residing in the North and the rest of the country."

"We take pride in partnering this initiative which should speed up the socio-economic development of the entire country. We are honoured and privileged to be here alongside the President whose presence at this opening confirms the government's vision for peace and stability," he said.

"Commercial Bank aims at creating a 'better future' for people and believes that projects such as this which enhance communication and infrastructure are vital for fast-tracking the development of the country," Weerakkody said.