India-assisted northern Lanka railways trial run successful

India on Friday announced the successful completion of trail run on a key railway track in Tamil-majority northern Sri Lanka, a region that suffered heavily during the three decade-long civil war.

The trial took place along the renovated Madhu Road- Thiruketheeswaram line. "The trial run evoked considerable enthusiasm among the local populace and many people were seen spontaneously cheering the train as it passed by", a press release issued by the Indian High Commission here said.

It comes close on the heels of the inauguration of Pallai-Jaffna reconstructed railway track and signal system by President Mahinda Rajapaksa early this month. Both the projects were undertaken by IRCON International (IRCON), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways of India.

The 26 km-long Madhu Road-Thiruketheeswaram reconstructed track is part of the 252 km prestigious Northern Railway Line Project, being implemented by IRCON under a concessional credit line amounting to about USD 800 million provided by the Government of India .

The completion of the railway line up to Talaimnannar would pave way for the resumption of ferry service between Talaimannar and Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. The development, in turn, would make it possible for Sri Lankan citizens to travel by train from Hambantota and Matara Sri Lanka to any part of India.