Deputy Minister of Transport, Prasanna Gunasena, says Sri Lanka Railways is implementing a phased disaster recovery and restoration programme across the national railway network following recent extreme weather events.

In a statement on social media, Prasanna Gunasena said the phased disaster recovery and restoration programme is being carried out to ensure the safe and gradual resumption of train operations in Sri Lanka. 

The Deputy Transport Minister further outlined the following details of the phased recovery process:

𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗦

Approximately 595.24 km of railway track (about 40%) has been restored.

Train services have commenced up to:

• Main Line – Rambukkana
• Northern Line – Maho
• Puttalam Line – Nattandiya
• Coastal Line – Beliatta
• Kelani Valley Line – Awissawella
• Trincomalee Line – Goods train operations only

𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦

• Restoration – Resuming operations as early as possible
• Rehabilitation – Strengthening damaged sections, removing speed restrictions, and improving resilience
• Reconstruction – Constructing new, disaster-resilient railway infrastructure

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗦

• 09.12.2025 – 56% track availability
• 01.01.2026 – 80% track availability
• 01.02.2026 – Over 83% track availability

𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦

• 01 Jan 2026 – Northern Line operational up to Mahawa and extended to Kankesanthurai
• 01 Jan 2026 – Puttalam Line operational up to Nattandiya and extended to Puttalam
• 01 Jan 2026 – Batticaloa Line fully reopened for train operations
• 01 Jan 2026 – Trincomalee Line fully reopened for train operations
• 01 Jan 2026 – Regional tourist train service introduced between Badulla and Ambewela, subject to NBRO approval
• 15 Jan 2026 – Track temporarily restored up to Wattegama and stranded train recovered to Kandy; line closure initiated for Mahaiyawa culvert repairs
• 01 Feb 2026 – Talaimannar Line reopened for train operations

𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪

Railway lines were affected by landslides, washouts, track subsidence, bridge and culvert damage, flooding, fallen trees, and other weather-related incidents across several main and branch lines.

𝗥𝗘𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 & 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦

• Total estimated damage – Rs. 341 billion
• Estimated requirement for rehabilitation and reconstruction – Rs. 128 billion

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗣

The online interactive map clearly displays railway sections that are:

• Operational
• Scheduled to commence
• Opened for service trains
• Pending estimation

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

https://railway.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content…

Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena further requested passengers to stay informed through official Sri Lanka Railways channels and cooperate during this phased recovery process. (Newswire)

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