Kelani Valley Railway Line to be Extended up to Ratnapura

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A decision has been made to re-extend the Kelani Valley railway line up to Ratnapura. 

Railways General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara said that accordingly, train journeys that were limited from Colombo to Avissawella will be extended up to Ratnapura. 

Land surveying along the section of the railway line from Avissawella to Ratnapura has already commenced.

Simultaneously, there are plans to increase the speed of the trains on this route from 40 km/h to 60 km/h.

As part of the development project, it is also planned to reduce sharp bends and improve the condition of the railway line.

The Kelani Valley railway line, which was built in 1903 from Colombo to Yatiyantota, was extended to Opanayaka in 1919.

This railway line was constructed by the British to facilitate the transportation of harvested crops, mainly from the country's agricultural regions, to Colombo.

However, in 1975, the railway service was limited to Ratnapura, and by 1977, train services on the Kelani Valley railway line were restricted to Avissawella.