Modi, Dissanayake inaugurate two railway projects in Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday jointly inaugurated and flagged off key India-backed railway projects in Anuradhapura. This marks a significant milestone in the growing bilateral infrastructure cooperation between the two nations.
At a formal ceremony held at the Anuradhapura railway station, the two leaders launched two major projects — the upgraded railway track of the Maho-Omanthai line and the newly constructed signalling system for the Maho-Anuradhapura segment.
The two projects have been executed with Indian assistance and are expected to significantly improve connectivity and safety across the northern rail network.
The railway projects have been implemented by IRCON International Limited, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said the leaders inaugurated the 128-km Maho-Omanthai railway line, refurbished with Indian assistance of $91.27 million, followed by the launch of construction of an advanced signalling system from Maho to Anuradhapura, being built with Indian grant of $14.89 million.
These landmark railway modernisation projects implemented under the India-Sri Lanka development partnership represent a significant milestone in strengthening north-south rail connectivity in Sri Lanka. They would facilitate fast and efficient movement of both passenger and freight traffic across the country, the MEA said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake visited the revered Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple. A major spiritual and civilisational site, the temple houses the sacred Bodhi tree.
The MEA said “The tree is believed to have grown from the Bo sapling that was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta Maha Theri (daughter of Emperor Ashoka) from India in the 3rd Century BCE”. As a mark of goodwill, the chief priest of the temple tied a ‘Raksha Sutra’ (protective thread) on PM Modi’s wrist.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi received a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the Sri Lankan Air Force, in Anuradhapura.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka released 14 Indian fishermen as a special gesture, a day after PM Modi pitched for resolving the vexed issue with a “humane approach”.
