Railway services to the North and East to resume from January 1

19-Dec-2025

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Railway services to the Northern and Eastern regions will fully resume from January 1 next year. Railway services to Talaimannar will resume from Feb 1 next year, Transport Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said.

He made this statement during the adjournment debate on the country’s current situation in Parliament on Dec 18.

He further stated that Cyclone severely affected the Central Province and disrupted transport infrastructure. Major and minor roads, bridges, railway tracks, and railway bridges were badly damaged. Nationwide, A- and B-class roads totaling approximately 1,450.6 km were damaged, with the Central Province particularly affected. Poor planning of mountain roads has contributed to the current situation.

Future-focused planning will receive special attention in road development. It is estimated that Rs. 69 billion will be required to restore damaged roads.

The Railway Department has suffered losses running into billions of rupees due to the cyclone. Railway tracks, bridges, and signal towers were severely damaged, especially on the hill-country railway line. Reconstruction of railway bridges alone is estimated to cost Rs. 6 billion.

Steps are being taken to rapidly restore damaged railway lines with full cooperation from the military. Railway services to the North and East will resume from January 1, 2026, and services to Talaimannar from Feb 1 next year.

Efforts to resume hill-country railway services are being expedited. Compensation is being provided to disaster victims. He urged all to work together to overcome the crisis and not seek political gain from it.