Cotta Road near the railway crossing will be closed to traffic from Saturday (06) morning due to renovation work on the Kelani Valley railway line, the Police said. 

Sri Lanka Railways Engineering Division informed the Colombo Traffic Division that the closure will remain in effect from 9:30 am on Saturday (06) until 7:30 am on Sunday (07). 

Train services on the line will also be suspended during this period.

The Police have requested motorists to use the following alternative routes:

• From Borella Junction towards Ayurvedic Junction (heavy vehicles and dual‑purpose vehicles): Turn right at Tickell Road Junction onto Castle Road, then left onto Parliament Road, and proceed to Ayurvedic Junction.
• From Borella Junction towards Ayurvedic Junction (motorcycles, three‑wheelers, cars): Proceed along Cotta Road to Ruhunukala Mawatha Junction, turn left, continue along Ruhunukala Mawatha, then right at Kuruppu Road Junction to rejoin Cotta Road and reach Ayurvedic Junction.
• From Ayurvedic Junction towards Borella Junction (heavy vehicles and dual‑purpose vehicles): Enter Parliament Road at Ayurvedic Junction, proceed via Model Farm Junction and D.S. Junction, then turn right at D.S. Junction to reach Borella Junction.
• From Ayurvedic Junction towards Borella Junction (motorcycles, three‑wheelers, cars): Proceed along Cotta Road to Rodney Street Junction, turn right, continue via Kuruppu Mawatha and Ruhunukala Mawatha, then rejoin Cotta Road to reach Borella Junction.

The Police said the measures are necessary to facilitate urgent railway renovation work and urged motorists to use the alternative routes to minimize inconvenience. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Railways has announced temporary changes to train operations on the Kelani Valley line as essential repair work is carried out at the Kota Road railway crossing, located between Baseline and Narahenpita stations.

The Department said the crossing will be closed and train services restricted during the maintenance period from 09.30 am on May 23 to 07.30 am on May 24.

On Saturday, May 23, three slow trains will depart from Narahenpita railway station to Avissawella, while traffic will be completely restricted at the Kotta Road railway crossing.

On Sunday, May 24, trains will not operate from Colombo Fort to Narahenpita stations on the Kelani Valley line, while three slow trains will operate from Narahenpita Station to Avissawella Station.

Sri Lanka Railways urged passengers to take note of the schedule changes and plan their journeys accordingly. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to acquire land from Maradana to Avissawella for the planned development of the Kelani Valley railway line.

The move follows earlier policy approval to modernize the line and resettle families living along the railway reservation. The Cabinet has now granted prior approval to allocate the necessary provisions for resettlement.

Accordingly, land located within the Colombo, Thimbirigasyaya, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Maharagama, Homagama, Padukka, and Seethawaka Divisional Secretariat divisions will be acquired by the respective Divisional Secretaries.

The proposal was presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and received Cabinet approval. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has awarded the consultancy contract for the feasibility study and preparation of detailed plans to extend the Kelani Valley Railway Line from Avissawella to Ratnapura.

The contract has been awarded to M/s. Resources Development Consultants (Pvt) Ltd at a total cost of Rs. 356.22 million, exclusive of taxes, following the recommendation of the Consultant Procurement Committee.

The decision follows Cabinet approval granted on October 21, 2025, to initiate the study. 

Expressions of interest were called under the national competitive procurement procedure, with eight bidders responding. 

After evaluating technical proposals, financial proposals from four eligible institutions were reviewed before the final selection. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has issued a warning over public safety, stating that residents along the Kelani River and in areas such as Kaduwela, Colombo, and Kolonnawa have reportedly been reluctant to evacuate despite rising flood risks.

He stressed that evacuation becomes extremely difficult once water levels rise and urged all residents in flood-prone zones to leave without delay.

The deputy minister further warned that floodwaters are expected to rise rapidly and unpredictably tonight, and called for immediate public cooperation to prevent loss of life. (Newswire)

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Train services along the Kelani Valley Railway line have been disrupted this morning.

According to the Railway Department, the delay was caused by a mechanical fault on a train.

A train plying from Avissawella to Colombo has broken down near the Kiriwandala Station. (Newswire)

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