The minister said that the new train will be a welcome addition for office workers.

“There’s a loss of 300,000 rupees for just one trip,” he said.

Wijeratne said bus service operators may have to halt their services even after the hartal.

We have been told that some person are not bringing these money in at all because of the forced conversion rule

Colombo Port City showcased in London

"The railway department had made some reforms to the prices of special and intercity train ticket," he said.

“The crisis has scared a few customers and they would pump petrol even if the tanks were full," he said.

"Who bears the loss?  At this time, I don’t think we can put that burden on the commuting public,” he said.

The projects will be funded by the Hungarian Exim Bank’s concessionary finance facility.

“We will wait until changes are made, but if things don't turn around we will have to take union action again.”