President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called upon the transport authorities to immediately re-implement the electric train project on the Kelani Valley line and other railway line development projects which were due to be launched by the former Government following the feasibility study done.
President Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to immediately re-launch this project which is now defunct, taking steps to run an electric train on the Kelani Valley line as early as possible, a media release by the Transport and Highways Ministry stated.
The President gave these instructions to Transport and Highways Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena and the transport authorities at the progress review meeting of the Transport and Highways Ministry at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday, June 9.
Minister Gunawardena told the meeting that the train services will be upgraded based on the needs of commuters. He said railway stations and train services will be made attractive for the benefit of commuters.
Steps will also be taken to increase the income avenues of the Railway Department by providing various other services, he said.
The President’s Chief of Staff Anura Dissanayake, Transport Ministry Secretary R.W.R. Pemasiri and General Manager, Sri Lanka Railways, Dhammika Jayasundara were also present.