June 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka government is expediting the construction of the Colombo-Jaffna rail track from Vavuniya to Kankasanthurai under the "Uthuru Mithuru" project.

The track will be reconstructed northward from Vavuniya and southward from Kankasanthurai in the first phase of the railway track program, spokesperson for the Railways and Transport Ministry said.

In the second phase the track will be constructed from Nachchikudha to Jaffna. Sri Lankan government is soliciting donations to carry out the project.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has decided to gift the Elephant Pass railway station to the northern people as an 'Affection Port' with the contributions from all Sri Lankan students and teachers to the reconstruction efforts.

All the Sri Lankan students will contribute two rupees to fund the reconstruction of the Elephant Pass railway station.

Earlier in June the government laid the foundation for a new railway station in Omanthai. The estimated cost for the Omanthai rail station is Rs. 20 million. It will be constructed with the assistance of the people of Galle and its suburbs.

The Northern rail track was severely damaged by the LTTE as they have used the parts of it to build bunkers in the rebel controlled territory. As a result of this destruction the train services on Northern track were limited to Vavuniya only for the last 20 years.

Sri Lanka government estimates that nearly Rs. 14 billion would cost to restore the entire rail track by 2010 under the "Uthuru Mithuru" program designed by the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa.