<span style="color: #222222;">The Sri Lankan government has said that it will consider restarting the 2.2 billion dollar Light Rail Transit project, stretching from Colombo Fort to Malabe.<br />''<br />''The Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, funded project was abruptly terminated by the previous regime in 2020.<br />''<br />''Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the government is ready to renew the project contract with JICA. He said the loan has favourable conditions including low-interest rates, and a grace period of 12 years.<br />''<br />''The minister added that the LRT project will provide a better transportation system to ease severe traffic to Colombo during peak hours and will have economic benefits on several fronts.<br />''<br />''The proposed service can complete the journey from Malabe to Colombo Fort within 30 minutes during peak hours and operate a train every 10 minutes during off-peak hours.<br />''<br />''Currently the route which goes across the seat of the administration, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte faces severe traffic and congestion during peak hours.<br />''<br />''In September 2020, former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed the Transport Ministry to terminate the l project as it was perceived to be very costly.<br />''<br />''It was felt that the project was not appropriate or cost-effective, transport solution for the urban Colombo transportation infrastructure.</span><br />