The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Association contends that reconstruction of the Peradeniya Bridge, damaged nearly a year ago, is being held back pending completion of a broader Kandy urban development initiative.
The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Association has alleged that plans to rebuild the Peradeniya Bridge remain stalled while authorities prioritize the completion of a Kandy city development scheme. According to the association's chairman Sumedha Somaratne, the bridge suffered damage from Cyclone Ditwah approximately twelve months ago, yet reconstruction efforts have not commenced.
Somaratne claims that the bridge will not be renovated until a multimodal transport hub is constructed as part of the broader Kandy city plan. He has publicly challenged the relevant government minister to restore train services on the up-country railway line independent of the larger urban development project's timeline.
The delay has significantly impacted railway operations in the region. The association reports that holiday services, which previously included two special trains daily, have been discontinued entirely. Somaratne characterized the situation as symptomatic of deteriorating conditions within the Railway Department, highlighting how the service backlog has constrained operational capacity.
The allegations raise questions about project prioritization and the coordination between railway infrastructure repairs and broader urban development initiatives in the Kandy district.
