About 2/3 of Sri Lanka’s railways inoperable after cyclone: Dep minister

Dec 18, 2025 12:00 PM

by

Sienna De Silva

Only one third of Sri Lanka’s railway system is currently operational, Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena informed parliament.

“The railways department suffered the most. We can only use about a third of the entire system,” Gunasena said, outlining the extent of the damages sustained.

He reported that landslides and falling boulders damaged 91 locations along the railway tracks. In addition, 73 major bridges and 38 smaller culverts have been affected. Trees or branches have fallen onto the tracks in 149 places, while another 177 locations have sustained various forms of damage or obstruction.

Furthermore, 27 railway stations have been damaged as a result of these incidents.

Some of the worst affected stretches include Balana–Kadugannawa, Gampola–Nawalapitiya, Wattegama–Ukuwela, Beragala, and Kotagala–Ambewela, according to the Deputy Minister.

(Colombo/Dec18/2025)

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