Sri Lanka Railway is seeking World Bank support to minimize damages from landslides to upcountry railway tracks.

 The General Manager of Railways Eng H.M.K.W. Bandara told Times online that they are planning to prevent landslides occurring near railway tracks in upcountry areas by fortifying mountain walls and building drains  to divert the water flow.

He added that they are planning to obtain the support of the World Bank to take measures to prevent landslides in areas where tracks are being damaged and obstructed by landslides.

Meanwhile the upcountry railway services have resumed after clearing the rocks fallen onto the track  between the Hali-Ela and Uduwara train stations after a landslide that  occurred yesterday evening.

The GMR explained that the incident had occurred at the 177 mile post area between the two stations, an area repeatedly subjected to landslides.

“ We are planning to reduce landslides in upcountry areas overall as the train services get disrupted due to earth slips and landslides, The point where the landslide occurred yesterday was one of the sites where landslides are frequent.” He said.

 He added that they are planning to study the possibility of fortifying the hillside area between Hali-Ela and Uduwara train stations    

 Nandana Idipolage spokesperson for the railway department said trains functioning from Badulla to Colombo were halted yesterday due to the earth slip.