Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena inspected restoration sites along the upcountry railway line on Tuesday, with the Ministry confirming that 92 of 97 damaged locations on the Maradana–Peradeniya main line have been repaired since Cyclone Ditwah struck.
The remaining five sites are concentrated between Rambukkana and Kadugannawa, where landslides, soil washouts, rock falls and damage to bridges and culverts complicated the engineering response. The National Building Research Organization is leading specialised investigations and design work for the final stretches to ensure long-term stability and safety.
A service train has been operating between Rambukkana and Kadigamuwa since 3 May to transport materials needed for the repairs. The Ministry said restoration work is progressing steadily but did not give a target date for the full reopening of the line.
The November 2025 cyclone caused an estimated $4.1 billion in damage nationwide and recovery efforts remain hampered by a funding gap, with the upcountry rail network among the worst-hit infrastructure segments. Earlier reporting put the damage at 223 sites along the main upcountry route, including damage that meant the Udarata Menike service to Badulla was limited to Rambukkana for several months. The Ministry’s current 97-incident figure refers specifically to the Maradana–Peradeniya segment that handles all upcountry traffic.
Restoration of the line carries economic stakes beyond transport: hill country tourism, the daily commute to Kandy and freight links to upcountry tea estates all depend on it.
Source: Newswire.
