• Upcountry railway repairs, including Peradeniya bridge, to cost over US$ 90 million 

All efforts are being made to resume train operations to Kandy within a year, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said.

Speaking to the media during an inspection tour, he noted that the upcountry railway line was severely damaged by floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah last year. He added that reconstruction costs are expected to run into millions of dollars.

He said that repairing the track between Rambukkana and Peradeniya is estimated at US$ 74 million, with an additional US$ 18 million needed to fully reconstruct the Peradeniya railway bridge, also known as the ‘Kalu Paalama’.

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck last year, caused severe destruction across Sri Lanka, affecting both highways and railway networks. Floods and landslides washed away sections of key roads and railway tracks, disrupting transport links to several regions.