Sri Lanka Railways will recommence the war halted train services to Jaffna after 24 years. The famous North-bound train Yal Devi, which is currently running between Colombo and Palai, will be extended to Jaffna from today at a function which will be graced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The president will join the inaugural drive as a Special passenger.
LTTE terrorists blasted the Colombo bound Yaldevi train near the Kodavil railway station in 7th July 1990. They removed the Sleepers and iron bars of the railway track to build bunkers. Then the railway services along the northern line was restricted to Vavuniya. Reconstruction of the northern railway track began soon after the end of the war against terrorism in 19th May 2009.
The project to rebuild the tracks and necessary facilities have been undertaken by IRCON International Limited under a concessionary credit line of 800 million US dollars provided by the Indian Government for the Northern Railway Reconstruction Project.
On the request of the government many institutions came forward to reconstruct the destroyed railway stations. Accordingly, commercial bank sponsored Kilinochchi railway station and Singer Sri Lanka helped to rebuild Thandikulam railway station.
Bank of Ceylon helped the construction of Jaffna station. The line includes three main rail bridges, including the longest bridge at Navatkuli.
The four crossing stations between Palai and Jaffna located in Kodikamam, Chavakachcheri and Navatkuli will be opened by the President. President and the delegation will be warmly welcomed at a special ceremony organized at the Jaffna railway station.
General Manager of the Railway B.A.P Ariyaratne says the public will be able to visit Jaffana by train from Tuesday.
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