Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said that the ‘Yal Nila’ Odyssey special luxury train from Mt Lavinia to Kankesanthurai will commence from August 4.
The Minister, announcing the inauguration of this service, stated that, following the complete renovation of the tracks from 
Anuradhapura to Omanthai, trains could run at a speed of 100 km per hour to Kankasanthurai, in a safe and reliable manner.
The air-conditioned luxury train will start from Mt. Lavinia at 10.00 pm on August 4 and reach Kankasanthurai at 5.30 am the following day. It will then leave Kankasanthurai at 9.30 pm on Sunday, August 6 and reach Colombo at 5.20 am the following day.
It will operate daily from August 18 to December 31, 2023. Seats can be booked online.
This service will cease temporarily, from January 1, 2024, to upgrade the line between Anuradhapura and Mahawa.
The Minister concluded that this service would be of immense convenience to local and foreign Tamil devotees to attend the Nallur festival.
The train has 384 First Class seats and each seat cost Rs.4000.00
It has 124 Second Class seats and each seat costs Rs.3000
There are 105 Third Class seats and the seat fare is Rs.2000 per seat.
Booking Links https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/memberregister
