Srilanka, Feb. 14 -- The Deputy Chief Engineer (Roads) of the Railway Department, P.J. Prematilleke, announced that the new government is prioritizing the fast-tracked construction of the railway line from Avissawella to Hambantota. He made this statement at the Ratnapura District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (13).

Prematilleke outlined the proposed plan for the railway line, which will be built in three phases. The first phase will connect Avissawella to Ratnapura, the second phase from Ratnapura to Kahawatta, and the third phase will link Embilipitiya, Suriyawewa, and Mattala to Hambantota Port.

In the first phase, which covers the stretch from Avissawella to Ratnapura, railway reserve surveys have already been compl...