APD | Sri Lanka declares open China funded railway track

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, April 8 (APD) – Sri Lanka on Monday declared open a China funded railway track linking two key town in the south of the country.

The first passenger train service from Matara to Beliatta was launched by the Sri Lankan government.

The Matara to Beliatta railway track was constructed at a cost of US$ 278 million with funding from China Exim Bank.

A Chinese company constructed the railway track.

The 36 kilometer extension of the southern coastal rail line from Matara to Beliatta is the first stage of a 113-kilometer railway line from Matara to Kataragama.

The project is to be completed in three phases and the Matara to Beliatta segment is the first phase of the project.

The second phase of the project is the 48 kilometer segment from Beliatta to Hambantota and the in the third phase the track will be extended another 39 kilometers from Hambantota to Kataragama.

China is heavily involved in funding, constructing and managing projects in Sri Lanka including highways, railway tracks, an airport and port.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)