The Department of Railways said that it is exploring the possibility of reconstructing the railway bridge over the Mahaweli River—located between the Peradeniya and Sarasavi Uyana stations—as a double-track bridge.
The structure, commonly known as the Kalu Paalama, sustained extensive damage during the recent flooding, raising serious concerns about its stability.
Railways General Manager Ravindra Padmapriya said the bridge now appears to be beyond repair, though a final decision on its future will be made tomorrow following further assessments.
“We hope to determine from Monday how the damaged section can be addressed,” he said. “Based on that, we will move forward with the planning. Most likely, we will proceed with constructing an entirely new bridge. The intention is to build it as a double-track structure, as the existing bridge is not suitable for temporary maintenance in its current condition.”
