Railway services on the north-bound route resumed after 23 years: Sri Lanka

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the 'Yal Devi' rail service at Omanthai this morning. Railway services on the north-bound route resumed after 23 years. Pix courtesy President’s Media

President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning inaugurated the 'Yal Devi' railway service at Omanthai travelling as its first passenger to the Kilinochchi railway station.

An LTTE bomb blast on the Yarl Devi, popularly known as the ‘Queen of Jaffna’, killed hundreds of civilians and 28 army personnel on January 19, 1985 bringing an end to a popular mode of travel to the North.

The Indian-based Ircon International was contracted to re-build the 62-kilometre Northern railway line from Omanthai to Kilinochchi at a cost of US$185 million.

The Sri Lanka Railways charges Rs.350 for a one-way third class reserved seat to either Colombo Fort from Kilinochchi or to Kilinochchi from Colombo Fort; Rs.550 is charged for a one-way second class seat while Rs.900 is charged for travel on the observation compartment.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/35430-yal-devi-reaches-kilinochchi.html