The government has planned to extend the Central expressway to Gannoruwa in the future, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake said in Parliament today (09).
In response to questions raised by Parliamentarian Anuradha Jayaratne, Minister Rathnayake said several road development projects have also been planned to improve the road network in Kandy.
He further stated that reconstruction work on the Colombo–Kandy Upcountry railway line, which was damaged by adverse weather and landslides, is expected to be completed by the end of this year or during the first two months of 2027.
The issue was raised by MP Anuradha Jayaratne, who expressed concerns over the delay in restoring the railway line, noting that the suspension of train services has had a significant impact on Kandy's tourism industry.
"The absence of the train service to Kandy has become one of the reasons for the economic difficulties.
The upcountry railway journey is on the bucket list of many tourists, and the prolonged closure is affecting the tourism sector," the MP said, urging the government to adopt faster construction methods and improve access to the affected sites.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Rathnayake explained that repair work is particularly challenging because construction materials can only be transported via the railway line itself.
"There is no alternative route to transport materials to many of these locations. Some sections, particularly between Nanu Oya and Ambewela, pass through protected forest reserves and mountainous terrain, making access extremely difficult," the Minister said.
He noted that engineers from the Department of Railways and the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) have been working on the project since January and that some of the severely landslide-affected locations require specialised engineering solutions that can only be carried out by the NBRO.
"We are creating temporary access roads with the support of local residents and have even transported railway engines by road to expedite the work. These efforts are aimed at completing the project much faster than would normally be possible," he added.
The Minister expressed confidence that, except for the Wattegama–Matale section, all other damaged railway sections could be restored by the end of 2026 or by January–February 2027.
"The Wattegama–Matale section may require an additional six months due to the complexity of the work," Minister Rathnayake added.
