Sri Lanka Railways has resumed rail service between Colombo Fort and Thalaimannar Port from July 24, restoring a northern link that had been cut after Cyclone Ditwah damaged the track.
According to NewsFirst, Railway Media Spokesperson Asanka Samarasinghe said the line has been repaired and that trains will run daily under an adjusted schedule following the completion of emergency restoration work. He added that services will not stop at the Anuradhapura New Town station until renovations there are finished.
Daily Mirror reported the operating details of the reinstated service. Train No. 5003 departs Colombo Fort at 3.50am and reaches Thalaimannar Port at 10.44am, while the return train, No. 5004, leaves Thalaimannar Port at 4.10am. The route runs through Gampaha, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Galgamuwa, Anuradhapura, Madhu Road, Mannar and Pesalai.
Each train includes two air-conditioned first-class compartments with reserved seating, alongside standard carriages. Passengers travelling between the capital and the far north-west of the island had been without a direct rail option while the line was out of service.
The Thalaimannar route is a long-standing artery to Mannar and the wider Northern Province, and its restoration marks another step in the recovery of transport infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. Railway authorities said scheduling may be adjusted further as operations settle back to normal.
