(March 17, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) A most heart-warming news item is the gesture of the people of Hambantota in deep south to help build the Jaffna railway station in the deep north as a goodwill project of unity.
It would be an ideal recognition of the country’s religious diversity when this project is completed, it will be duly inaugurated with two express trains, The Frangipani and The Jasmine, running between Kankesanturai and Hambantota, each commencing their journeys at the same time preferably at dawn, every day north to south and south to north.
Indian Railways have crack express trains in operation and the sleeper facilities they provide are of the class most suited to Sri Lanka. They are such that people board as strangers and leave as friends.
It will be good for Sri Lankan Railway authorities to have a look at some of the great express trains like the Saberi Express, the Rajadhani, Mangalore-Chennai and even the one running between Kanyakumari and Jammu Kashmir that must take at least three days.
It is understood the Government of Sri Lanka will commence reconstruction of the Northern Line from Vavuniya onwards to Kankesanturai in the next few days. Towards this a national secretariat has been set up to streamline this project under the supervision of President Mahinda Rajapakse himself. The entire project, it has been reported, will cost Rs 5 million.
"The Sri Lankan Railway can be one of the major unity factors bringing all the people of Sri Lanka together. It is time we pursued this ideal with dedicated passion and the spirit of religious fervour." Photo by: Pavithrini BandaraIt will be ideal to co-ordinate the bus services by linking key stations to outer lying areas like Mullaitivu, Point Pedro, Vaddukoddai, Karainagar, Kayts and Punguditivu without passengers having to get to town bus stands away from the stations.
Another aspect would be pre-booking facilities in convenient city and town centres and also online booking facilities both of which are done with great efficiency by the Indian Railways.
The Sri Lankan Railway can be one of the major unity factors bringing all the people of Sri Lanka together. It is time we pursued this ideal with dedicated passion and the spirit of religious fervour.
 A most heart-warming news item is the gesture of the people of Hambantota in...){kind=link}
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