Sri Lanka launches first Light Rail Transit project

Sri Lanka's first Light Rail Transit project worth USD 2.2 billion was launched under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today (Jul 3).

The project is expected to assist in reducing traffic jams and also provide a safe transport system for the urban population which has been rapidly increasing in the recent past.

Of the total investment, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide USD 1.85 billion as soft loan, Project Director Engineer Chaminda Ariyadasa said at the launching ceremony of the project.

The Light Rail system will connect 16 stations between Malabe and Fort and is expected to reduce travelling time to about 32 minutes. The tracks will be constructed mainly on the existing roads.

"Today we are entering into a revolutionary urban transport system in South Asia," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said during the launch at the Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo this evening.

He added that the project is expected to create more employment opportunities and attract investments apart from serving as a convenient mode of transport.

(Reporting by Rubatheesan Sandran ; Pics by Rubatheesan Sandran and Priyanka Samaraweera)