As another step towards improving the quality of the train service, a luxury train service with all facilities for the passengers traveling from Colombo to Kankesanthurai in the North was launched on the morning of 2022-01-09.

That is the luxury train which started from Mount Lavinia railway station at 5.10 am towards the Kankesanthurai railway station. The Department of Railways says that the running schedule has been prepared for this train in a way that it will leaves Mt. Lavinia at 5.10 am daily and reaches Kankesanthurai at 12.17 pm the same day, and then the train leaves Kankesanthurai at 1.15 pm and reachs Mt. Lavinia at 8.25 pm.

The train, made in India with modern technology, has 10 air-conditioned compartments and 02 power engines.Also, the Railway Department has taken steps to provide all the facilities required by the passengers in this train.These include comfortable seating, a dining car for dining, television facilities, and modern toilet facilities.

The Department of Railways says that the passengers wishing to avail themselves of this train service will be able to purchase e-tickets online six months in advance.

The value of this train purchased under the Indian Line of Credit is Rs. 2500 million. The Railway Department has set up a special security arrangement for the protection of this train.

The launching of this train service was held at the Mount Lavinia Railway Station under the patronage of the Minister of Transport, Mrs. Pavithra Wanniarachchi. The Minister then traveled by this train from Mount Lavinia Railway Station to Colombo Fort Railway Station and was accompanied by General Manager of Railways, Mr. Dhammika Jayasundara and a group of officials.

Following the inauguration of this luxury train, Minister of Transport, Mrs. Pavithra Wanniarachchi said: The present Government has planned to implement a number of short, medium and long term programs to improve the quality of railway service in Sri Lanka. The luxury train service that started its journey to Kankasanthurai can be introduced as a step of this initiative.  The Railway Department has taken steps to provide the public with a service to comfortably travel to the North by this train at a very affordable price.This train service enables local and foreign tourists traveling to the North to enjoy maximum comfort.The Railway Department is currently planning to add such luxury services to the office train services in the future.Accordingly, steps have been taken to commence several air-conditioned train services from major cities close to Colombo within the next two weeks.As the Minister of Transport, I request you, as the passenger community, to protect these carriages and help while maintain these services.

The Railway Department states that this train stops at Mount Lavinia, Dehiwala, Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya, Fort, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Killinochchi, Kodikamam, Jaffna, Kondavil, Chunnakam and Kankesanthurai.

The price of a tickets from Mt. Lavinia to Kankesanthurai is Rs. 1700, from Mt. Lavinia to VavuniyaRs. 1500 and from Mt. Lavinia to Anuradhapura Rs. 1200. (Minimum fare is Rs. 1200)