▁sm o other ▁and ▁sa fer ▁operation . ▁ ▁The ▁previously ▁ 3 - h ours - and - fort y - min ute ▁travel ▁time ▁between ▁Col om bo ▁and ▁Mat ara ▁has ▁been ▁reduced ▁to ▁just ▁two ▁hours . ▁ ▁Mat ara – K atar ag ama ▁extension ▁▁ ▁The ▁railway ▁is ▁being ▁extended ▁from ▁Mat ara ▁to ▁Kat ar ag ama ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Railway ▁project . ▁ ▁Ph ase ▁ 1 ▁extended ▁the ▁railway ▁ 2 6 . 8   km ▁from ▁Mat ara ▁to ▁Bel iat ta ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁ ▁million . ▁The ▁China ▁National ▁Mach in ery ▁Import ▁and ▁Ex port ▁Corporation ▁broke ▁ground ▁on ▁Ph ase ▁ 1 ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁The ▁line ▁includes ▁two ▁brid ges ▁of ▁ 1 . 5   km ▁and ▁ 1 . 0 4   km ▁in ▁length , ▁the ▁longest ▁on ▁Sri ▁L anka ' s ▁railway ▁network . ▁ ▁There ▁is ▁also ▁a ▁ 6 1 5 ▁meter ▁long ▁tunnel ▁at ▁K ek an ad ura . ▁The ▁maximum ▁track ▁speed ▁is ▁. ▁The ▁Mat ara – B eli atta ▁extension ▁opened ▁to ▁traffic ▁on ▁ 8 ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁the ▁first ▁new ▁railway ▁built ▁in ▁Sri ▁L anka ▁since ▁independence ▁from ▁Great ▁Britain ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 8 . ▁ ▁Ph ase ▁ 2 ▁will ▁serve ▁the ▁Mag amp ura ▁Mah inda ▁Raj ap ak sa ▁Port ▁in ▁Hamb ant ota ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁