Kelani Valley narrow gauge 2-foot-6-inch trackbed remnants: stone culverts past Avissawella?
Where can railway archaeology enthusiasts inspect abandoned colonial masonry bridges and station abutments along the decommissioned KV line to Yatiyantota?
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3 Answers from travellers
The original 2-foot-6-inch narrow gauge Kelani Valley (KV) line ran from Colombo Fort through Avissawella to Yatiyantota (completed in 1903 to haul plantation rubber and tea). While the Colombo-Avissawella sector was converted to broad gauge, the 18-mile extension beyond Avissawella was dismantled in the 1940s. The abandoned right-of-way can be traced along the A7 highway corridor: stone abutments of iron lattice bridges survive over the Sitawaka and Kelani tributaries at Karawanella, along with intact brick arch drainage culverts and the colonial station master house at Dehiowita.
Much of the former track alignment has been converted into gravel village access roads; hiring a local three-wheeler helps navigate overgrown rubber estate sections.
Historic iron bridge rails salvaged from the decommissioned narrow gauge were repurposed as structural telephone posts and cattle fencing across Kegalle district.
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