Colombo, March 31 – Sri Lanka Tourism together with the Sri Lanka Railways Department is exploring the possibility of providing tourist accommodation to budget travelers visiting the island country, the LBO reported on Friday.
Under the scheme, the Railway Department will renovate discarded railway carriages and lease out unused land to create accommodation facilities for tourists in railway stations.
Initially the project will focus on railway stations such as Colombo Yard, Mahaiyawa Sub Railway, Nanu Oya, Ambewela, Ella and Dodanduwa.
The Railway Department also intends to derive an additional income through this new initiative.
The initiative is a joint proposal made by Transport Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.
The proposed project will be implemented in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with the due approval of the cabinet.