Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, officially informed the Anuradhapura Atamasthanadipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera on Monday that it is not possible to start operating the train to Anuradhapura before Poson Poya day, as the reconstruction work of the Northern Railway has to be carried out further.
On this occasion, the Minister had explained to Ven.Pallegama Hemarathana Thera that due to the construction of a new elephant crossing under the railway line in Galgamuwa, the Thalawa, Galgamuwa and Thambuttegama railway stations are still undergoing renovations, and it is not possible to resume the train service before Poson Full Moon poya day.
Although it was previously planned to complete this project before Poson Poya, the Minister had informed the Atamasthanadipathi subsequent to carrying out an observation tour conducted together with the Secretary of the Ministry, as well as the officer in charge of foreign projects.
After the completion of this project, which is the largest development project currently being implemented in the country under Indian loan assistance of around three thousand million, the train can operate from Colombo to Jaffna at a speed of more than hundred kilometers per hour. Accordingly, the seven and a half hour time required for a train journey from Colombo to Jaffna at present, could be reduced to five and a half hours, the Minister said.
Minister Gunawardhana has informed the Atamasthanadipathi that even though it is planned to establish a modern railway signal system from Mahawa to Anuradhapura, a new loan agreement is to be signed with the Government of India.
