Maradana Railway Station Revamp Launched Under “Clean Sri Lanka”

(Lanka-e-News - 15.Sep.2025, 10.45 PM) The historic Maradana Railway Station in Colombo is set for a major facelift as part of the government’s flagship Clean Sri Lanka programme, coupled with the Dream Destination initiative. The renovation project was formally launched today morning (15) under the patronage of President Anura Dissanayake.

The scheme forms part of the government’s broader vision, “A Prosperous Nation – A Beautiful Life”, which seeks to deliver a sustainable, modern, and standardised public transport system. Backed by a state–private sector partnership, the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation has embarked on a national programme to modernise 100 railway stations islandwide.

Officials said the objective is to transform stations into safe, clean, and accessible hubs for all passengers, including those with special needs, while upgrading facilities to meet contemporary standards.

At yesterday’s ceremony, President Dissanayake unveiled a commemorative plaque before touring the station premises, inspecting the main administrative block and other key facilities. The event also saw the introduction of a new Sinhala computer font, Ruhunu Kumari, developed by the Department of Railways.

Maradana Railway Station, regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s most historically significant railway hubs, is the second largest in the Colombo district. Authorities stressed that the restoration will proceed without compromising its architectural heritage.

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake, addressing the gathering, said that decades of political neglect had left the railway service struggling, with employees bearing the brunt of an outdated political culture. “Building a quality railway system has long been a challenge, but this initiative brings together trade unions, passengers, local communities, and the private sector to restore public trust and efficiency,” he remarked. He added that the project is also intended to support tourism development, and urged continued support from all stakeholders.

The event was attended by Deputy Transport and Highways Minister Prasanna Gunasekara, Western Province Governor Haniff Yousuf, several Members of Parliament, Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazar, Ministry Secretary Prof Kapila C. Perera, General Manager of Railways Ravindra Padmapriya, senior officials from state institutions and the security forces, representatives of the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, private sector delegates, and groups of schoolchildren.

---------------------------
by     (2025-09-15 17:22:58)