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PAST | PRESENT |
Exactly 53 years after the first journey of the "Yal Devi", the popular train to Jaffna, the government of Sri Lanka launched, on 23 March 2009, the “Uthuru Mithuru” Yal Devi Friendship Rail Track Reconstruction Project to rebuild the North-South railway line.
The line, which was permanently closed in 13 June 1990 following disruption and intermittent severance of linkages by terrorists, is now undergoing reconstruction to restore the rail connectivity between the Northern Province and the existing railway grid. The project currently involves the laying down of rail track between Vavuniya and Kankesanthurai, as well the rebuilding of 27 railway stations.
As part of the project, the Sri Lanka Railway Department has issued a special ticket to commemorate the start of this important endeavour. Once the track is completed, the ticket can be used for a one-way journey. The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UNO currently has tickets, and will begin selling at the National Day celebrations of 2010 to be held on 5 February 2010, and thereafter through the Mission.
Rebuilding the social structure through networking is sustainable, and could be facilitated by the restoration of normal commuting channels spread across the country. The purchase of this special ticket at this juncture would make you a stakeholder of the rail track running North to South, thus linking the people.
For more information on the “Uthuru Mithuru” project, please also visit www.uthurumithuru.org.