First Phase of China-built Railway in Southern Sri Lanka Goes into Service

The Matara - Kataragama Railway Extension Project (Phase 1) Matara - Beliatta Sector in southern Sri Lanka has been completed and the railroad has went into service on April 8.

The single track broad-gauge 26.75-kilomter railway calls at four stations and two stop points and is driven by diesel engines with a designed speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

The project is generally contracted by China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), a wholly-owned enterprise of China General Technology (Group) Holding Ltd. (Genertec).

Since 2013, many other Chinese central SOEs including China Railway No.5 Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway Electrification Engineering Group Co., Ltd. joined in the project with the support of the leaders of China and Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Export-import Bank of China.

After more than 2,000 days' work, the first modern railway in Sri Lanka in the past 100 hundred years was completed.

The project is a reflection of the principles of consultation, co-building and shared benefits. For instance, the design and construction of the project integrated standards of both China and Sri Lanka.

All key technical staff members involved in the project were Chinese and the main equipment and railway materials were made in China.

In the past five years, the Chinese staff conquered negative factors such as floods and geological situations and guaranteed the operation of the railway on time, which demonstrated China's advanced engineering management to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The railway will improve traffic and transportation simultaneously and increase employment in railway transportation industries, as well as drive national economic growth and improve people's livelihoods.

Meanwhile, the local technicians who participated in the first phase of the project will be treasures for Sri Lanka and its people and will contribute to the nation's future railway construction.

CMC, founded in 1950, has been a pioneer in developing international businesses among Chinese enterprises. In the past 70 years, the company has been a main platform of mechanical and electrical equipment trading and support for the export of Chinese technologies, standards and products.

The first phase of the southern Sri Lanka railway project will promote the country's economic development and be a milestone in the implementation of the BRI and the Maritime Silk Road.

The first phase of the China-built railway in Southern Sri Lanka has been completed and went into service on April 8. [Photo/C (Genertec]

The first phase of China-built railway in southern Sri Lanka will improve employment and livelihoods together and promote the country's economic growth. [Photo/Genertec]

(Executive editor: Li Shuling)