Travel to Sri Lanka by Road or Rail
A proposal to build a bridge linking Sri Lanka and Indian across the Palk Straits has been renewed after the end to the conflict in the country earlier this year.
The bridge, intended to be constructed over the existing string of sand banks between Sri Lanka and India known as “Adam’s Bridge” is set to aid in the regaining of Sri Lanka’s regional identity and allow the island to be a part of the continent, stated Amal Kumarage, chairman of the island’s National Transport Commission
“If we have a land bridge with India it will revolutionize travel,” he told a seminar organised by the Chamber of Construction Industry on transport needs to revive the island’s north and east.
Kumarage said the Indo-Lanka bridge is still at least 10 years away and should be looked at as a long-term project. He also hinted that though the original proposal gave priority to a road bridge, current thinking gives priority to a rail link, arguing that “Given the distances covered, railway is a better mode of transport to link the sub-continent with Sri Lanka.”
Meanwhile, the two countries could run fast motorised ferries from Colombo to Tuticorin and Cochin in India with the distances being 400-500km, Kumarage said.