Oct 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka Railways says that a feasibility study is now under way to look into extending the Colombo - Puttalam railway line up to Kalpitiya in the North Western Province.

The railway is to be extended from Puttalam via Norochcholai to Kalpitiya, an upcoming tourist zone.

Norochcholai houses the country's main coal power plant and the railway is expected to be used to transport coal from Trincomalee.

According to tourism officials, Kalpitiya, the stretch of land planked between the sea on one side and the lagoon on the other side and the nearby islets in the Puttalam District, will be developed under the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Project as a major tourist destination similar to Bali in Indonesia.

The Colombo-Puttalam rail line, completed in 1926, covers a distance of about 134 km.