The reconstruction of Northern railway line between former LTTE-held Omanthai and Palai and North Western railway line between Medawachchiya and Thalaimannar is scheduled to be launched during the three-day official visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in November.
At present, trains operate only up to Thandikulam, three kilometers north of Vavuniya. Before being liberated from the clutches of the LTTE, Omanthai and Palai respectively were the Southern and Northern entry-exit points of the rebel-controlled territory of Vanni. Tiger terrorists removed the railway lines for construction of bunkers while nearly all railway stations had been totally destroyed due to heavy shelling coupled with a quarter century of neglect.
Highlight of Minister Krishna’s visit will be the kicking-off of the laying of the new rail line, which is funded by Indian Government and constructed by Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON).
Although the launching ceremony was earlier scheduled for October 29, 2010 at Medawachchiya, it was postponed due to the unavailability of Minister Krishna to attend the event.
The project is implemented under Uthuru-Mithuru (Southern Friendship) initiative which is under the Waddakkin Wasantham (Northern Spring/ Uthuru Wasanthaya) programme which is closely supervised by Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa.
The laying of the new North Western track will be executed under two phases. Under Phase One, the 43 km Medawachchiya to Madhu segment is to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 9.1bn (US $ 81 mn) while the Phase Two, under which the Madhu to Thalai-mannar sector will be built, is estimated to cost nearly Rs. 11.8bn (US $ 149.74 mn).
Through Indian Credit Lines, India has committed nearly Rs. 89.6 bn (US $800 mn) to under highly concessionary terms, directed at reconstruction and resettlement in the North.
Last August, IRCON International General Manager, S.L. Gupta, signed the contract for Government of India while Sri Lanka Railways Chairman, P.P. Wijesekara signed on behalf of the Sri Lanka under the auspices of Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok Kantha and Sri Lankan Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama.
High Commissioner Ashok Kantha earlier said the laying of the North-Western rail track would re-strengthen the long-standing friendship between the two countries. Despite many obstacles, India is hopeful that the two nations would be able to connect the island to the subcontinent through a rail link, which existed before the full-blown civil war broke out in 1983.
Mega developments in Railway Sector
Meanwhile, top lender to Sri Lanka- China is financing the laying of the 56-km stretch beyond Pallai up to the northern port township of Kankasanthurai.
India is financing the upgrading of the 160 km long Coastal Rail Line from Colombo to Matara under three phases at a cost of Rs. 18.7bn (US $ 167 mn). Rehabilitation of the Colombo-Kalutara segment has already commenced and the 42 km long Galle- Matara segment is to be concluded by end 2010.
Meanwhile in the Southern Sri Lanka, state-run China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMEC) will construct the 110-km long Matara-Kataragama rail track with Chinese financial assistance.
Under Phase One, a 30-km sector from Matara to Beliatta under Phase Two the rail track will be extended to the emerging port city of Hambantota. In the third and final phase, the rail link will be further extended up to sacred city of Kataragama.
On Tuesday, (October 19) President Rajapaksa visited the Omanthai Railway Station to inspect the re-construction of the Northern railway line after chairing the Northern Province progress review meeting held in Vavuniya.
The Asian Tribune learns that the visiting Indian Foreign Minister is to hold discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris.
Sri Lanka also agreed with India setting up two new consulates- one in Jaffna (Northern Province) and the other in the emerging port hub of Hambanthota, as a means of reinforcing its presence in the island.
source: Asian Tribune
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