Marking a new turning point in the country’s public transport sector, the large-scale project to modernize the Colombo Fort Railway Station into an international-standard transport hub was officially launched on April 9 under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Implemented under the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, this “Railway Efficiency Improvement Project” is funded by the Asian Development Bank along with government allocations, with an investment exceeding LKR 2,162 million.
The development project, which is scheduled to be completed within the next 15 months, aims to provide a higher quality service to the hundreds of thousands of daily railway commuters. Key components of the project include: Introduction of modern automated ticketing systems to replace traditional methods, construction of modern electric lifts and overhead pedestrian bridges to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and the elderly, development of new building complexes to enhance passenger safety and installation of high-standard sanitation facilities.
Upon completion, the Colombo Fort Railway Station is expected to become a passenger-centered, efficient, and technologically advanced main transport hub.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a country without a developed public transport system cannot be considered a developed nation. She emphasized that the government’s policy is to build a sustainable transport system that enables children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to access services conveniently.
The event was attended by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake; Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih; Deputy Ministers Prasanna Gunasena and Eranga Gunasekara; as well as Colombo Deputy Mayor Hemantha Weerasinghe and Railway General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya, along with several senior officials from the ministry and the Department of Railways.
