New Matara - Beliatta rail line declared open today

The newly constructed Matara - Beliatta rail route spanning 26 kilometers  was declared open by Minister of Transport Arjuna Ranatunga today (Apr 08).

The rail route was constructed at a cost of USD 278.2 million and is the first phase of a new rail route project that is expected to run from Matara to Kataragama.

The second phase of this project would see the construction of a 48-kilometer rail route from Beliatta to Hambantota following which it would be expanded by an additional 39 kilometers until Kataragama.

Four railway stations and two sub-railway stations have been set-up between Beliatta and Matara.

Accordingly, the main railway stations will be established at Kekanadura, Bambarunda, Wewrukannala, and Beliatta while the sub-railway stops will be located at Piladuwa and Viharahena.

There will be three platforms across all main railway stations while the platform at the Beliatta railway station would span between 250 - 300 metres.

A speciality of this project is the construction of a passenger tunnel instead of an overhead bridge which would facilitiate passengers to cross between platforms.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, State Minister Dileep Wedaarachchi, Deputy Transport Minster Ashok Abeysinghe , parliamentarians Mahinda Amaraweera, Chamal Rajapaksa, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Southern Governor Keerthi Tennakoon were among those present during today's opening ceremony.

(Reporting and pics by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk)