The Sri Lankan government declared to open a railway line constructed between Matara and Beliatta in the southern part of the island country, which will hopefully boost passenger traffic into the deep south, on April 8, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua)

Sri Lanka has imported a train from China for its upcountry line at a cost of 10.3 million U.S. dollar which will be the first of nine power sets, the island's Transport Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

Quoted in the local media, the Transport Ministry said the train is able to run on winding roads on the upcountry line.

The train will have two air-conditioned carriages, two second class carriages and two third class carriages and a dining car.

Sri Lanka plans to import nine trains from China for upcountry services, and the ministry hopes to start intercity services with the power sets.