News
Modernisation of northern railway line between Maho and Omanthai begins
by PRIYANDE SILVA
The modernisation of the 130 km of railway track between Maho, in the North-Western Province, and Omanthai, in the Northern Province commenced at a ceremony attended by Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr Bandula Gunawardena and High Commissioner of India, HE Gopal Baglay, held near the Medawachchiya railway station,on Sunday (08).
The existing railway track between Maho and Omanthai is over 117 years old and 12 crossing stations, eight halt stations, 213 culverts, 90 bridges and 80 level crossings are to be upgraded. The work is being carried out by IRCON International, a subsidiary of the Indian Railway, at a cost of 91,268,599.60 USD under a special Indian Credit line. The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) has been appointed as consultants to the project.The modernisation will enable trains to run on the line at a maximum speed of 120kmph which will reduce the travel time between Colombo and Jaffna by about an hour.The work is expected to be completed in five months and until such time the train services on the northern line will be terminated at Anuradhapura.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
Sears takes five again as New Zealand complete ODI series sweep over Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
-
Business2 days agoStrengthening SDG integration into provincial planning and development process
-
News6 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
Sports7 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
Business22 hours agoNew SL Sovereign Bonds win foreign investor confidence
-
Sports3 days agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
News7 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features7 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Features7 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know