India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, reviewed the restored Northern Railway Line, which was rehabilitated with Government of India grant assistance following extensive damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The restoration was carried out under a 5 million USD Indian grant as part of a broader 450 million USD reconstruction package extended by India to support Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts. The work was executed by IRCON International Ltd., a Government of India undertaking, and completed in record time, enabling the resumption of rail services ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations.
The completion of the project was formally announced during the visit of India’s Vice President to Sri Lanka on April 19, 2026. Following the restoration, regular train services on the Northern Railway Line have resumed, reconnecting communities affected by the cyclone.
India has emerged as a key partner in rebuilding Sri Lanka’s railway infrastructure, having constructed and rehabilitated more than 500 kilometres of railway track and installed nearly 400 kilometres of signalling systems across the island. The High Commissioner’s visit underscored India’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s post-disaster recovery and long-term connectivity needs.
