1.0 sri lankan Railway Network

Sri Lankan Railway Network

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Length of track (1996 figures)
Total 1,463 km
Broad gauge 1,404 km 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge
Narrow gauge 59 km 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge(1996)

Railway network

West German, Henschel-Thyssen, General Motors V12 12-645E (2 stroke) locomotive in Colombo-Kandy railroad track. Sri Lanka Government Railway operates the country’s railway
network, which includes about 1450 km (901 mi) of track. Colombo is the main node of the network, and train routes connect the main cities of all nine provinces in the country.
Most of the railways were developed during the British colonial period, with the first line from Colombo to Kandy opening on 26 April 1867. The British introduced the railway as a cheap means of transporting the goods produced in the British-owned tea, rubber and coconut
plantations, situated away from the main port in Colombo. Hence, the legacy rail network was suited for the distribution from plantations. After independence from Britain, the Sri Lankan economy became focused more on industries than plantation agriculture. The road network also grew, and with the introduction of lorries, which were a faster means of transporting goods, the amount of goods transported by the railways declined. As the railway network is more focused on plantation areas and not on population and service centres, the railways
have become an enterprise generating a heavy loss. The Sri Lankan railway network covers one of the most scenic landscapes in the world, the best of which is the Colombo-Badulla main line which runs hugging the steep mountains of the Sri Lankan highlands. The railways connect the main cities of Kandy, Galle, Matara, Anuradhapura, Gampaha, Negombo, Kurunegala, Avissawella, Kalutara, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Badulla, Gampola,
Nawalapitiya, Matale, Vavuniya, Puttalam and Chilaw with the Capital Colombo. The lines to Jaffna, Kankesanturai and Mannar have been destroyed by the LTTE. There were also narrow gauge lines from Nanu Oya to Nuwara Eliya, Avissawella to Yatiyantota and Avissawella to Ratnapura and Opanayaka, which were dismantled due to financial losses from their operation.


Note that the narrow-gauge Kelani Valley Line, from Colombo to Avissawella is not functioning anymore, there is a broad gauge track in its place now. In the 1970s the bridges and culverts on the line were strengthened to make thechange to broad gauge, but the actual conversion was not made until the 1990s. The potential for expansion was revealed when Minister of Transport Leslie Goonewardena opened an extension of the Coastal Line from Puttalam to Aruvakalu in 1974, to service the cement factory there. Cargo traffic increased immediately by about 40% by tonnage. A new line from Matara to Tissamaharama has been started. In 2005 a new government ministry was established to oversee railway expansion.

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Railway routes

• Main Line – Colombo to Badulla.

• Matale Line from Peradeniya junction to Kandy and Matale. Udupussellawa Line (narrow gauge) from Nanu Oya junction to Ragala via Nuwara Eliya - Track abandoned in 1940.

• Southern Line – (Better known as Coast Line)- Colombo to Matara via Galle - extension ofthe track up to Hambantota and Kataragama is currently under construction.

• Northern Line – Colombo to Kankesanturai deviates from the Main Line at Polgahawela junction - presently operating only up to Thandikulam, track was abandoned from Vavuniya due to war. Reconstruction began in March 2009 to re-extend track up to Kankesanthurai. Mihintale Line from Anuradhapura to the sacred city of Mihintale

• Batticaloa Line separates from the Northern Line at Maho junction and extends up to Batticaloa via Polonnaruwa.

• Tricomalee Line from the Batticaloaline at Gal-oya junction in the to Trincomalee.

• Puttalam Line – Colombo to Puttalam - deviates from the Main Line at Ragama. Industrial Line from Puttalam to Aruwakalu and Ilavankulam via Vanathavillu.

• Kelani Valley Line (narrow gauge) - Colombo to Yatiyantota - presently operating only up to Avissawella, the track to beyond Avissawella was abandoned in 1940. Broad gauged up to Avissawella in 1997. Sabaragamuwa Line (Narrow Gauge) from Avissawella to Opanayaka via Ratnapura - Track abandoned in 1970.

• Mannar Line (Earlier Indo-Lanka Line) Colombo to Talaimannar - Divides from Northern Line at Madawachchi junction - Not operational - track abandoned due to terrorist activities.

1.1 sri lankan Railway Network-main line

Main Line

The Main Line starts from Colombo and runs east and north past the rapidly developing centers of Ragama, Gampaha, Veyangoda, and Polgahawela. At Rambukkana, the Main Line begins its steep climb into the hills of the upcountry. Between Balana and Kadugannawa, the track clings to the side of sheer cliffs, offering passengers spectacular views of Batalegala ('Bible' Rock). The Main Line then continues its climb through the scenic tea country, connecting busy local market centers at Gampola, Nawalapitiya, and Hatton before reaching Nanu-Oya. This is the connection to the former colonial resort of Nuwara Eliya, still popular for its temperate climate, classic hotels, and British-style gardens. The Main Line continues its ascent to the summit at Pattipola, 6,226 feet above sea level, before descending past Bandarawela to Badulla. In the upcountry, passengers are rewarded with views of tea gardens, mountains and valleys, cascading torrents and waterfalls.

Udupussellawa Line (narrow gauge) from Nanu Oya junction to Ragala via Nuwara Eliya - Track abandoned in 1940.

1.2 sri lankan railway network-coast line

Coast Line

The Coast Line(Southern Line) runs south from Colombo, following the edge of the Indian Ocean. It offers passengers views of tropical beaches and coconut palms. This line links the regional towns of Moratuwa, Panadura, and Kalutara South, as well as popular beach resorts at Aluthgama, Ambalangoda, and Hikkaduwa. The line continues past Galle, which is famous for its historic and well-preserved Dutch Fort, before terminating at Matara. The line extension of the track up to Hambantota and Kataragama is currently under construction.

1.3 sri lankan Railway Network-Northern Line

Northern Line

Colombo to Kankesanturai deviates from the Main Line at Polgahawela junction - presently operating only up to Thandikulam, track was abandoned from Vavuniya due to war. Reconstruction began in March 2009 to re-extend track up to Kankesanthurai the Northern Line branches northward from the Main Line at Polgahawela , passing Kurunegala, the capital of North western Province, before continuing to the historic cultural and religious center of Anuradhapura, the island's ancient capital around the 4th century B.C.E. and home to many sites of religious and archaeological interest.

*Mihintale Line from Anuradhapura to the sacred city of Mihintale.

1.4 sri lankan Railway Network

Kelani Valley Line

The breadth of Colombo District and some parts of Kegalla and Ratnapura Districts is owned, maintained and operated by the Sri Lanka Government Railway.


Originally built from Colombo to Yatiyanthota via Avissawella during 1900 - 1902. It was branched off at Avissawella and extended up to Opanayaka via Ratnapura (completed in 1912). Originally built as a narrow gauge line 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) to serve the rubber plantations in the area, the railway line between Avissawella and Yatiyanthota was removed in 1942, the line from Homagama to Opanayaka abandoned in 1973. The services were restarted up to Avissawella in 1978. In 1992 a project was started to broad gauge the line and was finally completed up to Avissawella (58km) in 1996. The tracks beyond were completely abandoned and currently the tracks from Avissawella to Yatiyanthota and Opanayaka can be traced by the leftover and ruined stations, bridges and bunds. Currently the line serves an increasingly urbanizing population leading up to Avissawella. Even though the line was broad gauged to improve the services in capacity and speed, the objectives have not been achieved due to sharp curves (a leftover of the narrow gauge system) and the illegal constructions on either sides of the track from Colombo up to Maharagama. Main Railway stations in the line are Colombo Fort, Maradana, Narahenpita, Nugegoda, Maharagama, Kottawa, Homagama, Padukka, Waga,Kosgama, Avissawella.

As of January 1, 2009, there were 16 trains operating on the line daily, mainly catering for the rush hour commuters traveling to and from Colombo.

1.5 sri lankan railway network-Batticaloa line

Batticaloa Line

The Batticaloa Line branches eastward from the Northern Line at Maho, to Polonnaruwa, site of an ancient capital in the 11th century and home to many historic monuments. The line continues to the eastern city of Batticaloa.

batticaloa lake 1988

1.6 sri lankan railway network-matale line

Matale Line

The Matale Line branches off the Main Line at Peradeniya Junction, near the world-famous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. It connects to Kandy, home of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha, before descending to Matale.