HISTORY OF ANURADHAPURA-MIHINTALE RAILWAY LINE

Late President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1990 proposed to build a Railway Line from Anuradhapura to Mihintale

Anuradapuramihintale Railway line was declared open on May 28, 1993 by then Minister of Transport Wijepala Mendis, which is 26 years ago

Buddhist history of Sasana says that the historical value has gone up and Mihintale Village was known as Mihintalawa, as the historical rock became popular due to arrival of Anubudu Mihindu Thera.

This sacred place is situated about 16 km away from Anuradhapura ancient Kingdom. Most of the pilgrims visit this place by public or private transport.

It was arduous for the pilgrims visiting this sacred place as the journey is quite difficult.

The late President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1990 proposed to build

a Railway Line from Anuradhapura to Mihintale to ease pilgrims travelling to Mihintale. The task was entrusted to the then Minister of Transport Wijepala Mendis and the then General Manager of Railway W.A.C.K. Silva. It was planned to build from Mihintale Junction to Mihintale Sacred area parallel to main bus route and necessary crown lands were acquired for this purpose.

However, President Premadasa was frustrated and discouraged by criticism levelled against him from various quarters saying that this project was aimed at nurturing timber merchants and had plans to stall the idea. Had this railway line been constructed as planned earlier, ignoring the criticism, it would have been a very useful mean of transport.

Matara-kataragama railway line was also his brainchild. If he had been alive, we would have seen the Kataragama - Matara Railway line and the pilgrims could have easily used this railway line to reach Kataragama Sacred temple, the Station Master said.

Anuradhapura-mihintale Railway line was declared open on May 28, 1993 by then Minister of Transport Wijepala Mendis, which is 26 years ago.