The Railways Department said the reconstruction of the Peradeniya Railway Bridge, better known as the Yaka Palama (the Devil’s Bridge), will be completed in time for the reopening of the Upcountry Railway line.
Responding to recent allegations by the Railway Station Masters’ Association regarding significant delays in the project, the Department’s General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya said that while efforts are being made to finalise construction by next month (April), the Department is prioritising safety and quality over strict deadlines. Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (17), he clarified the Department had never officially committed to a completion date of 28 April, contrary to the claims made by the said Association.
“We are trying our best to finish this by April. Even if we finish the construction of the Bridge by 28 April, we cannot use it since the Hill Country Railway is not renovated yet. By the time the Upcountry Railway line is finished and ready for train operations, the Yaka Palama will be ready,” he explained. He further revealed that a team of engineers from the Peradeniya University is currently conducting an investigation into the said Bridge.
“A group of researchers from the University’s Engineering section are conducting an investigation on the Bridge, and that will take approximately a month,” he noted. “We have planned to finish the Yaka Palama by next month, yet, due to external and practical reasons, delays could happen. For instance, there is the issue with the fuel supply these days. The machines that are working there need fuel to operate, and due to these hindrances, the construction can be hindered as well,” he said.
He added that while temporary halts in the procedure have occasionally occurred, work remains ongoing, dismissing the accusations from the Association that the project faces frequent stoppages, and asserting that operations will not cease regardless of such allegations.
The Peradeniya Railway Bridge sustained significant damage in November of last year (2025) due to cyclone Ditwah. The said Association has recently raised concerns over the pace of reconstruction, warning the project is unlikely to meet its projected deadline.