In 1990, during Sri Lanka’s 36-year civil war, Elephant Pass Railway Station was destroyed, and northern rail-line closed. When the civil war ended in 2009, the north-south reconnect included reopening the Colombo to Jaffna rail-line and this culturally significant station, ASAP.
Read: Gamini Kularatne
With support from the Education Dept., teachers & students across Sri Lanka donated Rs10 and Rs2 respectively. In today’s exchange, that’s A$0.03c and A$0.007c. That's not a lot to give, but all was needed for the station to reopen to finish the reunification of Sri Lanka.
Thanks to the people, Elephant Pass Railway Station reopened on March 4, 2014 and the north - south were connected once again by rail.
You've gotta praise the Sri Lankan's spirit of purpose more than the size of donations. Kids don’t need to know the rebuilding of Elephant Pass Railway Station cost A$000’s of dollars, instead feel happy believing that their Rs2 bought a sign, or window, platform seat, or a quiet space for the Station Master (below) to watch cricket in between infrequent services.
