- The primary objective of the Sri Lanka Railways is to provide a safe, reliable and punctual Rail Transport Service for passengers and for freight traffic. It has been identified by the Government, that a systematic improvement of the railway track is an essential factor for achieving the said objective. Considering the importance of the improvement to the railway road section between Mahawa and Vavuniya, with the railway tracks constructed newly beyond Vavuniya under the Northern Railway track development activities carried out recently, the Sri Lanka Railways Department has planned to rehabilitate the said track of 120.7 km (inclusive of the 5 km loop line). Accordingly, the Mahawa - Vavuniya Railway Track will be developed and the section between the Anuradhapura - Vavuniya (49.4 km) is to be rehabilitated as its First Phase and the section between Mahawa - Anuradhapura (66.4 km) is to be rehabilitated as its Second Phase. The proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the Minister of Internal Transport, to carry out the rehabilitation activities through procuring track materials including concrete sleepers required for the purpose and the necessary equipments locally, as wherever possible and utilizing the manpower of the Department, was approved by the Cabinet.