The construction of the Matara – Beliatta railway extension is currently nearing completion. Hence, the project had been expected to be commissioned by the end of this year or the beginning of next year, project officials said.
The total length of the extension is 26.75 kilometres. Main railway stations had been erected at Kekanadura, Babarenda, Wewurukannala and Beliatta, while sub-stations had been constructed at Piladuwa and Weherahena.
In addition, 12 main bridges, 10 small bridges, two one-and-a-half-kilometre-long bridges with sluices, 49 concrete bridges, two tunnels, 16 subways and eight railway crossings had been constructed under the project.
The longest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka, measuring a length of 616 metres, had been constructed at Nakuttiya at a cost of USD 278.2 million, under the Matara – Beliatta Railway Extension Project.
Funds had been provided by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), project officials added.