TIL Desk/World/Colombo/ The track-laying commencement of the first phase of the China-built Matara-Kataragama railway extension project has started in Matara in Sri Lanka. The first phase of the project includes constructing a railway service from Matara to Beliatta, in the south of the island country.
Sri Lankan Minister for State Enterprise Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said during the ceremony on Friday that the island nation was hoping to finish the first phase of the project in the coming months, which would benefit the public and tourists.
“On behalf of the President (Maithripala Sirisena) and the Sri Lankan government, I would like to thank the Chinese government for this historic event.The extension is a historic development which will hugely benefit the public transport sector as well as the country’s tourism sector,” Abeywardena said.
“Successive governments in the past have tried to implement this project. Due to the assistance of the Chinese government and the Chinese company, this project will soon be a reality,” the minister added.
