Overview
Sri Lanka Railways
Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) is a government department functioning under the Ministry of Transport. It is the country’s primary rail transport provider, offering both passenger and freight services. At its inception, railway operations focused mainly on freight transport, but today SLR operates primarily as a passenger-oriented service.
SLR’s market share for passenger transport is approximately 6.0%, while goods transport accounts for about 0.7%. The railway plays a vital role in transporting daily commuters across the country.
Sri Lanka Railways operates approximately 396 trains, including 67 long-distance and 16 intercity services, carrying around 3.72 million passengers daily.
Infrastructure & Resources
- 1561 km of railway tracks
- 72 locomotives
- 78 power sets
- 565 passenger carriages
- Comprehensive signalling network
- Workforce of 17,634 employees
Sri Lanka Railways functions under the General Manager of Railways (GMR), who reports directly to the Secretary of the Ministry of Transport. The organization is structured into ten Sub Departments and three Units, each managed by departmental heads reporting to the General Manager.
Vision
To be the most sought-after land transport provider in Sri Lanka, delivering exceptional value to all stakeholders.
Mission
To provide a safe, reliable, and punctual rail transport system for passenger and goods transportation.
