The stretch of the Northern railway line between Jaffna and Kankesanthurai (52 km) is to reconstruct on a special request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to strengthen the railway services for the benefit of the people living in the Jaffna peninsula.

The reconstruction work had already begun from Kankesanthurai to Palali.

It is expected that this will pave the way for speedier travel by train and thereby save time of the Northern population who had not travelled by train for over 30 years due to suspension of the service owing to LTTE terrorism.

Meanwhile, the restoration of the Northern railway line is now progressing and the service of the Yal Devi is back on track traveling to the Thandikulam railway station from Colombo after 30 years, official sources said.

In addition, a new railway track from Medawachchiya to Thalaimannar (104 km) parallel to the Northern railway line will be reconstructed to augment the railway service in the North.