The Government has begun construction on the first phase of the proposed Matara-Kataragama railway line from Matara to Beliatta.

A contract to construct the first phase between Matara to Beliatta was signed with a Chinese company recently, said Sri Lanka Railways General Manager P.P. Wijesekara, reported Daily News.

“We have now taken the initiative to extend the railway line in three stages. Under the first stage, railway track will be extended from Matara to Beliatta while the track will extend up to Hambantota from Beliatta under the second stage. Under the last phase, the railway line will be extended from Hambantota to Kataragama”, he added.

There are four railway stations to be constructed basically between Matara to Beliatta. But following public demand, we can set up more stations,” he said.

The length of the stretch from Matara to Beliatta is 30 km which will be constructed with Chinese Government financial assistance.