News
Colombo linked to Jaffna by steel after 24 years
After 24 years ‘Yal Devi’ is all set to begin its journey to Jaffna from Colombo with pride, linking the North and the South.
Final touches being given to the renovated Jaffna station. Pix by N. Parameswaran
Since 1990 its services had to be terminated due to the conflict.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to inaugurate the service from Pallai to Jaffna. The service had been operating up to Pallai after the track was gradually repaired from Vavuniya northward in stages.
Railway engineers carrying out test runs on the track ahead of tomorrow’s inauguration
Railway General Manager B.A.D. Ariyaratne said there will be four trains initially from Colombo to Jaffna daily.
“The services will be available to the public from Tuesday onwards. We have not finalised the timetable yet. It will be released on Monday,” he said.
Meanwhile residents in Kilinochchi requested the Railway Department through the Government Agent Mrs. Rubawathy Ketheeswaran, to set up a new sub station at Ariviyal Nagar considering the location of the town.
Mrs. Ketheeswaran told the Sunday Times that the Railway Department granted permission to set up a sub station there with the construction of buildings already underway and it is expected to open the station by the end of this year.
“There will be two faculties of the Jaffna University in this town. In addition two garment factories have been put up by MAS Holdings in this area. Some areas here have been identified for an industrial zone too. It would be really helpful for the people in this area if there is a sub station here,” she said.
The Bank of Ceylon (BOC) said it is proud to be part of the project to reconstruct the Jaffna Railway Station which is to be opened tomorrow by President Rajapaksa after remaining closed for 23 years.
A BOC spokesperson said this project is one of the ‘Uthuru Mithuru’ projects of the bank, as a community service, making a significant contribution in rebuilding the largest railway station on the Northern Line.
Reopening of the Jaffna railway station will pave the way for new business avenues for the people of the Northern Province while commuters will be able to get in touch with the rest of the country much more conveniently,” he said.
Postmaster General D.L.P. Rohana Abeyratne said the first mail train to Jaffna starts on Tuesday after twenty four years.
“The existing procedure is for post office officials to collect the mail from Pallai railway station. I will be the first official to take the mail to Jaffna. The Deputy Postmaster General will receive it at the Jaffna railway station.” he said.
He said with the extension of the railway service to Jaffna, a fast and efficient postal delivery system would be provided to the people of the North.
| Ex-Railways employee recalls Yal Devi days
Thambirasa Senthilnathan was stationed at Paranthan railway station when the Yal Devi was attacked in 1990. He served in the Railway Department for 37 years, most of his years being spent serving in different stations in the Northern Province.  Thambirasa Senthilnathan He considers the ‘home coming’ of the Yal Devi after nearly two decades as the most exciting event in his life. He said the Northern Line earned more revenue for the Railway Department than any other railway line in the country. The people as well as the public servants working in Colombo patronised it. There were also many short services functioning for the convenience of the people, he said. Mr. Senthilnathan started his career in 1977 at Jaffna railway station as the station master. He also served in Anuradhapura, Paranthan, Chavakachcheri and Mankulam. He remembered that when the Northern Province was under the control of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) he was working at the Chavakachcheri railway station. In those days there were five services daily from Jaffna to Colombo. People used the railway as their prime transport option when it came to travelling to other parts of the country. I never expected I would be able to witness the resumption of the service. I am very happy to see it one more time, he said. |