The Anuradhapura South Multimodal Transport Centre is nearing completion after resuming work in 2025 following earlier delays. The facility will integrate bus and railway services at a single location.
Construction of the Anuradhapura South Multimodal Transport Centre has advanced to its closing stages, with officials targeting completion before the end of 2026, according to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development. Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara conducted an inspection of the site on August 8 to assess ongoing work.
The project began in 2022 but experienced interruptions due to various obstacles before resuming operations in 2025 under a new consultancy arrangement. Developed as part of the broader Anuradhapura Integrated Urban Development Project, the transport centre is financed through a joint partnership between the government and the French Development Agency, with an overall budget of Rs. 2,500 million.
The facility is designed to consolidate bus and railway services in one location, aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and streamlining connections between transport modes. The centre will operate continuously and accommodate services across short, medium and long-distance routes. A specialized "Touch & Go" facility has been included to enable long-distance buses to drop off and collect passengers without extended parking periods.
Once operational, the terminal is planned to serve multiple destinations across the island, including Mullaitivu, Mannar, Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle, Matara and Colombo. The completed complex will incorporate security infrastructure, transport management systems, administrative offices and financial service facilities to support daily operations.
