Rail project launches in Sri Lanka

21 January 2012: S.M. Krishna, India’s External Affairs Minister has unveiled the first phase of a railway project in southern Sri Lanka being built with financial aid from the Indian government.

The first phase of the project comprising the 42-km Galle-Matara section was completed in February 2011. Krishna, on a four-day visit to this island nation since Monday, launched the 50 km rail track from Galle to Induruwa at a function at the Galle railway station, 116 km from Colombo.

The project, being executed by the state-run Indian Railways Construction International Ltd (Ircon), involves reconstruction of rail lines, training of personnel from Sri Lankan Railways in India, procurement of rolling stock and building of maintenance sheds. The second phase of the current project from this coastal city to Kaluthara, covering 72 km, is set to be completed in April.

Source: Economic Times