NEW DELHI, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- The decision to construct a rail corridor between India and Sri Lanka will be finalised in the second meeting of transport ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) due in Colombo in March 2008, Sri Lanka's Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

''During the first meeting of SAARC transport ministers held in New Delhi last month, we proposed that the next meeting be held in Sri Lanka" Sri Lanka's leading newspaper 'Daily News' reported Tuesday quoting Dullas Alahapperuma.
"This proposal has received the unanimous approval of all member states. The members will make their final decision on the proposed rail corridor and ferry service during the coming meeting.

"The proposals to construct the rail link and start a ferry service between neighboring India and Sri Lanka will figure high in the Colombo conference. "The rail corridor will link Colombo to Southern Indian city of Chennai, while the ferry service will operate between Colombo and Southern Indian town of Tuticorin," Alahapperuma revealed.

"The two projects will further strengthen bilateral relations. We expect that these projects will greatly enhance the social and cultural development in both countries. "In addition, the Colombo Conference will provide a great opportunity for us to learn from the experiences of other South Asian countries regarding development of the transport sector,'' he added.