The Seethawaka Odyssey tourist train travelling on the Kelani Valley track from Colombo Fort to Waga every Sunday will also operate on Saturday’s from August 5.
“This is the newest addition to Sri Lanka Railways’ fleet of tourist trains and due to the demand we made arrangements to add Saturday to the schedule,” said Chairman Western Province Tourist Board, Sugath Hewapathirana.
 Sugath Hewapathirana |
“With the introduction of the Saturday train from August 5, we will offer overnight stay packages as tourists can travel to Waga on Saturday and return on the Sunday train. This will give a major boost to tourism stakeholders helping them to boost the number of arrivals.”
He thanked the Minister of Media Transport and Highways Dr. Bandula Gunawardane for initiating the project.
The train will leave Fort Railway Station at 8.25 a.m. on Saturday and 7.15 a.m. on Sunday reaching Waga station in around two and half hours and return from Avissawella at around 6 p.m. The train offers 44 first class seats, 44 second class seats and 66 third class seats. Return tickets are priced at Rs. 800, Rs. 500 and Rs. 350 while one way tickets are Rs. 500, Rs. 300 and Rs. 200. The AC shuttle bus charges Rs. 800 and Non Ac Bus Rs. 600 for the entire journey.
“When you arrive at Waga station, there will be AC and non-AC buses waiting to take you around. You can buy a bus ticket and book a seat on one of those buses.
“The first stop will be Labugama reservoir, followed by Ranmudu Ella, Seethawaka Botanical Garden, (lunch) and the last stop of the journey will be Kumari Ella.
From there the bus will return to the Avissawella station where passengers get into the return train,” he said.
Tickets for Seethawaka Odyssey can be booked at the Colombo Fort, Maradana, Gampaha and Kandy railway stations from 9.00 am to 4 pm or by calling Mobitel M Ticketing Service or SLT hotlines 365 or 1265 or through the Sri Lanka Railway Department website 14 days before the scheduled travel date. Tickets can also be booked through travel agents.
“Armed with two departures we will now market this train among the travel agents in order to attract more tourists.” – SS