First phase of the Matara - Kataragama railway concluded

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Construction activities of the first phase of the Matara Kataragama railway line concluded today (August 12). The railway line was extended by 6 kilometers from Matara to Kekanadura. This railway line is also considered to be the first project where new rail tracks were connected to a track that had been laid during the colonial era. Speaking to News 1st, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Sri Lanka Railway Department, Priyantha Deegala stated that tonight the new railway track will be connected to the existing Matara - Kataragama Railway track from near the Hakmana railway crossing. He also continued to say that there are approximately 150 staff members who are working on the project. 150 Chinese workers also took part in this project. Speaking to News 1st, a Chinese engineer said that this project is the result of four years of hard work and that they consider it a gift that is given to Sri Lanka by the Chinese Government.