Work on the first phase of the Matara-Kataragama Railway development project from Matara to Beliatte is nearing completion.
According to project engineers, it is expected to be vested in the public within the first quarter of this year.
The total length of the Matara–Beliatta railway extension project is 26.75 kilometres. Main railway stations have been built in Kekanadura, Babarenda, Weurukannala and Beliatta and sub-stations are at Piladuwa and Weherahena.
Twelve main bridges, 10 small bridges, two one-and-a-half kilometre long bridges with sluices, 49 concrete bridges, two tunnels, 16 subways and eight railway crossings have been constructed on this new railway line.
The longest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka which is 616 metres in length has been built on this rail track at Nakuttiya. The total expenditure is US $ 278.2 million and the funds have been provided by a Chinese company, project officials said.