Several sections of the Northern Railway Line will be temporarily closed from Monday (19 January 2026) to facilitate reconstruction work on areas severely damaged by the recent Ditwa cyclonic storm, according to Sri Lanka Railways General Manager Mr. Ravindra Pathmapriya.
Accordingly, the Maho–Anuradhapura section of the Northern Railway Line will be temporarily closed from 19 January 2026. Furthermore, the Maho–Omanthai railway section will be completely closed from 26 January 2026. Reconstruction work on the Medawachchiya–Talaimannar railway line will also commence from 19 January 2026.
As part of the reconstruction project on the Maho–Omanthai section, five railway bridges will be replaced, and rehabilitation work on the underpass constructed for elephant crossings will be carried out concurrently.
It is planned to complete all reconstruction work on the railway line before the upcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year, thereby restoring normal North–South rail operations.
In addition, from 20 January 2026, the Pulathisi Intercity Express and the Udaya Devi trains will operate as scheduled, and the Night Mail Train service to Trincomalee is also expected to resume.
The Yal Devi train service is scheduled to operate from Anuradhapura to Kankesanthurai from 19 January 2026, and from Omanthai to Kankesanthurai from 27 January 2026. (Newswire)