SL Railway to open rail track to Madhu on May 14

Sri Lanka Railways Department is to open the Medawchchiya to Madhu segment of Medawchchiya - Thalaimannar rail line in the North on May 14, its sources have revealed.

The construction of the 106 kilometer long Medawchchiya - Thalaimannar line is carried out in two phases. The 43-kilometer Medawchchiya to Madhu segment was laid under the first phase at a cost of US$ 81.3 million.

The Medawchchiya to Madhu train service will be fully operational for this year's annual Madhu Church Festival in August.

Superintendent of railways B.A.P Ariyaratne has said that construction of the second phase to extend the track up to Thalaimannar at a cost of US$ 149 million has now been commenced.

The second phase is expected to be completed by September 2013.

The Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) is carrying out the construction work of both stages of the project which is being financed under a US$ 425 million credit facility from India.