Renovated Bambalapitiya Railway Station opens under ‘Dream Destination’ project

The renovated Bambalapitiya Railway Station was opened to the public on September 10, 2026 under the “Dream Destination” project, as the Government moves to make public transport a safer and more convenient choice for people in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended the opening ceremony and inspected the renovated railway station and the new pedestrian overpass providing access to the station.

The overpass was constructed by the Road Development Authority, with the Dawoodi Bohra community in Sri Lanka contributing Rs. 60 million towards the project.

The “Dream Destination” project is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Sri Lanka Railways Department under the Clean Sri Lanka national programme.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Amarasuriya thanked the Bohra community for taking the initiative to renovate the Bambalapitiya Railway Station and provide improved facilities at one of the busiest and best-known locations in the Colombo District.

She said improvements to public spaces and passenger facilities were helping to create greater public interest and a more positive view of public transport.

The Prime Minister also thanked the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Deputy Ministers and officials for their efforts to improve public transport services.

She said a country’s development should not be measured by the number of private vehicles it has, but by the way people use public transport.

The Government aims to improve a public transport system that has disappointed people for many years and make it more convenient and safer than travelling by private vehicle, she said.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government’s commitment to public transport is reflected in increased funding for the sector, while the “Dream Destination” programme brings State institutions and the private sector together to support national development.

She also said Sri Lanka was beginning to develop a common national dream after many years and stressed that building the country was a collective responsibility.

“A country does not belong only to the Government. A country is the home for everyone who lives in it,” she said, adding that people could contribute through their knowledge, labour or resources.

The Prime Minister said the participation of different communities and the private sector was essential for the country’s progress and praised the Bohra community as an example of that collective contribution.

She added that the Clean Sri Lanka programme further supports the Government’s aim of creating a better future and improving the experience of living in the country.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara said increased funding would be allocated to the Sri Lanka Railways Department for development work next year.

He said public transport and railway services had not received enough attention from governments in the past, but that this would change.

Gunasekara said the Government plans to begin work on an electric railway system next year on the instructions of the President.

Electric railway services are expected to be introduced from Maradana to Makumbura, Maradana to Panadura and Maradana to Ragama.

He also said work would begin to extend the Kelani Valley railway line from Avissawella to Ratnapura.

The Deputy Minister also thanked private institutions that had contributed to the “Dream Destination” project without seeking promotional benefits in return.

Speaking on behalf of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Khuzaimah Jefferjee said the community had been part of Sri Lanka’s social, cultural and economic life for more than 150 years.

He said being a citizen meant more than simply living in the country and also involved contributing to it, caring for it and leaving behind a better country for future generations.

Jefferjee said the community had therefore taken steps to renovate, modernise and beautify the Bambalapitiya Railway Station.

He said the community hoped the improvements would make the daily journeys of passengers cleaner, safer, more convenient and more dignified.

The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dr. Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways Ravindra Pathmapriya, Janab Amil Saheb Ibrahim, representatives of the Dawoodi Bohra community, officials of the Clean Sri Lanka programme and several others.