A new railbus service funded by India commenced in Sri Lanka's eastern province with the flagging off the fifth railbus.

The service was inaugurated at Galoya Railway station by Mr Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Chief Minister of Eastern Province.

The Government of India had undertaken to supply five rail buses for the Eastern Province.

Four such railbuses are already running between Trincomalee and Batticaloa since last year.

No direct rail service operated to Trincomalee apart from the Colombo—Trincomalee night mail train until the Indian-assisted railbus service.

Hence the commuters will find this new service a boon, railway officials said.

There will be four railbus services daily between Galoya junction and Trincomalee.

The complete project was funded under a grant from India of about Rs 6.58 crore .

In his message on the occasion, Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Mr Ashok Kantha, said that the project has been successfully completed in partnership with Ministry of Transport and Sri Lanka Railways.

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