To : All Sri Lankans and Well-wishers
The Government launched the above programme on 23rd March 2009, exactly 53 years after the Yal Devi, the popular train to Jaffna was first operated in 1956. The Government expects to make this a friendship project for rebuilding the country through the vital Yal Devi friendships. The estimated cost for the reconstruction would be around US$ 140 Million.
The creation of the Northern line acted as a catalyst for social change and increased people to people connectivity. It linked communities, ended the isolation of Northern Province and also spread new ideas and customs. For the first time newspapers from Colombo were available to all, which helped to increase the reading habits of the people and broaden their outlook. This also led to the growth of education, since people in Northern Province could send their children to South of the country or vice versa.
Since the operation of the first train in Sri Lanka on 27th December 1864, from Colombo to Ambepussa, the next few decades witnessed rapid expansion of the railway network in the country. Main cities such as Kandy, Haputale, Bandarawela, Badulla, Galle and Matara were gradually linked by rail to Colombo and the Northern railway link to Jaffna via Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi was connected in 1905.
One of the first casualties of the conflict was the disruption and intermittent severance of linkages by the terrorists between the North and the South as early as 1985. Despite several repairs to track and bridges the line was permanently closed after the 13th June 1990. The A9 road that connects the Jaffna peninsula and the northern part was also closed after terrorists overran townships along the roadway around 1990.
The key objective of the above Project is the re-establishment of rail connectivity between Northern Province with the existing railway grid. The project involves the laying down of the rail track from Vavuniya to Kankesanturai, as well as reconstruction of 27 Railway Stations.
The Uthuru Mithuru Project under the directives of the Hon. Minister of Transport seeks the active participation of Sri Lanka Missions abroad and through that to reach out to the Sri Lankan Diaspora abroad. The basic premise is to create alternative spaces for The creation of the Northern line acted as a catalyst for social change and increased people to people connectivity. It linked communities, ended the isolation of Northern Province and also spread new ideas and customs. For the first time newspapers from Colombo were available to all, which helped to increase the reading habits of the people and broaden their outlook. This also led to the growth of education, since people in Northern Province could send their children to South of the country or vice versa.
Information on “Uthuru – Mithuru Railway Tickets
The one-way rail tickets on “Uthuru – Mithuru” Yal Devi train from Colombo to Jaffna and Jaffna to Colombo issued by the Railway Department is sold at the price of Rs. 1000/- (KD 2/-). Incidentally, the tickets could be utilized at any point in the near future upon the rail track having being completed. Sale of tickets commenced at the National Day commemoration event organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait on 04th February 2010.
Your generous support and cooperation for this national endeavor will be much appreciated in order to complete the “Uthuru – Mithuru Yal Devi friendship rail track reconstruction project” at an early date as a symbolic gesture towards strengthening North – South friendship through mobilization of peoples support and cooperation.
Further information on this project is available at the “Uthuru – Mithuru” web site at www.uthurumithuru.org through which the daily progress on the reconstruction of the rail track can be monitored.
Purchase of Rail Tickets
The railway tickets are available at the Sri Lankan Embassy for KD 2/-. Those who are interested can contact the following officials for further information and purchase of tickets.
Mr. Sunil Premaratna, First Secretary : 25339137
Mr. Indranesan, Attaché : 25339145
Ms. Shahira, Clerk/Typist : 25330140 & 25339142
Your continued support for this worthy endeavor would be much appreciated.
Embassy of Sri Lanka, Kuwait
16th February 2010.
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