Iconic Yal Devi train to travel to Kankasanthurai on 2 January

Tuesday, 30 December 2014 02:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s famous north-bound Yal Devi train will begin services to Kankasanthurai, the last station of the northern line, on 2 January, according to Sri Lanka Railways (SLR). The iconic train resumed carrying passengers to Jaffna in October this year after a 24-year lapse and the 21-km long Jaffna to Kankasanthurai segment was still under construction when the train resumed plying to Jaffna. Sri Lanka Railways General Manager V. Amaratunga said the Yal Devi would start its journey to the furthest corner of the north at a special opening ceremony on 2 January under the patronage of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Between Jaffna and Kankasanthurai, along with the Kokavil, Kondavil and Chunnakam main train stops, there are five more sub train stops. According to the official, starting from 2 January it is possible to travel from Matara to Kankasanthurai. The northern railway line from Vavuniya to Kankasanthurai in the northernmost tip of the island was completely destroyed by the Tamil Tiger terrorists during their reign. The rebels uprooted the rail tracks to build reinforced underground bunkers. The rail line was reconstructed in stages by the India Railway Construction International Ltd. (IRCON) with financial and technical assistance from India. After the war ended in May 2009, the Yal Devi recommenced operations to Thandikulam on 6 June 2009 and then extended its run to Omanthai on 29 May 2011. It commenced services to Kilinochchi in September 2013 and extended the service to Pallai in March this year. It started plying to Jaffna on 13 October.