Sri Lanka expects Colombo–Kandy trains back in October after cyclone repairs
Cyclone Ditwah damaged 97 locations on the Upcountry line. Track work between Rambukkana and Kadugannawa is due to finish on 15 September, with Peradeniya–Colombo services resuming in October.
Where the repairs stand
Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr Prasanna Gunasena said construction on the Upcountry line between Rambukkana and Kadugannawa is scheduled for completion by 15 September, with Peradeniya–Colombo services expected to resume in October 2026. Cyclone Ditwah damaged 97 locations on the Upcountry line.
Two sites remain under construction. Repairs to the Peradeniya Black Bridge, known locally as Yaka Palama, have been set back by high water on the Mahaweli River submerging machinery. Trains currently run only as far as Rambukkana, with passengers transferring to road transport for the onward leg.
What travellers need to know
The Colombo–Kandy train is a fixture of almost every Sri Lanka itinerary, and the hill-country line beyond it — Kandy to Ella through the tea country — is one of the most-booked rail journeys in Asia. Since the cyclone, that first leg has been a road transfer.
Treat October as a target rather than a date. It is the first dated official signal that the line is coming back, but the bridge work is weather-dependent and both sources caution that temporary speed restrictions may remain once services resume. If you are travelling in October or November, keep the rail leg as a preference and hold a road alternative, and confirm with Sri Lanka Railways closer to the time.
Sources
This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.
- Peradeniya to Colombo train services to resume in October following Cyclone Ditwah repairs — Hiru News, 06 September 2026
- Sri Lanka to restore Colombo–Kandy train services next month — The Traveler, 05 September 2026
More travel news
A closer look at your journey — the detail that turns information into a journey genuinely worth taking.
Travel AlertsIndonesia’s aviation regulator has ordered airlines to rebook or refund passengers after volcanic ash closed six airports. Soekarno-Hatta reopened on Sunday evening with disruption continuing.
Destination NewsOman’s tourism ministry says Indian arrivals rose about 11% in 2025 and accelerated in the first half of 2026, with direct flights from more than ten Indian cities to Muscat.
Travel AlertsVolcanic ash from Anak Krakatau shut Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport for much of Sunday 6 September, affecting 301 flights. Bali’s airport stayed open but its Jakarta services were hit.