Sri Lanka Railways has initiated steps to import 10,000 rail tracks to replace deteriorated sections of the Coastal Line, with the shipment scheduled to arrive in June 2026.
The track replacement targets the Panadura-to-Colombo Fort corridor, where widespread rail degradation has forced speed restrictions that have caused persistent delays for commuters. Railway officials say that once the new tracks are installed, approximately 70 per cent of the existing speed restrictions on the Coastal Line are expected to be lifted by December 2026.
Alongside the track programme, tenders for the renovation of seven railway bridges on the Coastal Line are set to be awarded next month. The bridges earmarked for repair are at Kompannavidiya, Wellawatte, Pinwatta, Aluthgama, Induruwa, Gintota, Dodanduwa, and Hikkaduwa.
The Coastal Line has long been plagued by deterioration, and rail degradation was implicated in the April derailment of the Ruhunu Kumari express near Wadduwa. Officials have described the track replacement programme as a priority to restore normal train speeds along one of the country’s busiest commuter routes, which links Colombo with the western and southern coastline.
