Talks in Beijing to secure funding for Matara-Kataragama rail extension

A high profile team from the Ministry of Transport is in Beijing to discuss funding via China’s Exim Bank for the extension of the Matara-Kataragama railway track.

The discussion by the team led by Secretary Dhammika Perera will centre around concluding the financing for the extension between Matara and Beliatta track spanning 27 kilometres and costing around $ 270 million. Funding for the follow up extensions up to Kataragama will be discussed as well.

The Government has proposed to expand the railway services up to Kataragama in three stages.

Stage one will cover Matara to Beliatte (27 km), stage two Beliatte to Hambanthota (48 km) and  Stage 3 Hambanthota to Kataragama (39.5 km)