The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the acquisition of land between Maradana and Avissawella for the long-delayed development of the Kelani Valley (KV) railway line, Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters on Tuesday.
Land falling within seven Divisional Secretariat divisions — Colombo, Thimbirigasyaya, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Maharagama, Homagama, Padukka and Seethawaka — will be acquired by the respective Divisional Secretaries. The proposal was presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.
“At present, this is in the stage of identifying and acquiring lands; funds have been allocated for that purpose, and those activities have been expedited,” Dr. Jayatissa said. The Cabinet had previously granted in-principle approval for the development and the resettlement of families currently living within the railway reservation, with financial provisions earmarked for compensation and relocation.
The Kelani Valley narrow-gauge line, which carries Avissawella commuter traffic into Colombo’s Maradana hub, has long suffered from speed restrictions, ageing rolling stock and infrastructure that has not been comprehensively renewed since the colonial era. The land acquisition is the prerequisite step to securing the right-of-way for higher-speed running and modern signalling.
Tuesday’s decision is distinct from a separate feasibility study contract for an extension from Avissawella to Ratnapura, awarded in April. Together the two tracks define the government’s broader plan to reposition the KV corridor as both a Colombo commuter spine and a regional connector.
The Kelani Valley upgrade fits into a wider rail modernisation push under Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who has separately announced a Colombo-area electric railway plan covering Ragama, Makumbura and Panadura by 2027.
