Page "Transport in Sri Lanka" Paragraph 5

Most of the railways were developed during the British colonial period, with the first line from Colombo to Kandy opening on 26 April 1867.

The British introduced the railway as a cheap means of transporting the goods produced in the British-owned tea, rubber and coconut plantations, situated away from the main port in Colombo.

Hence, the legacy rail network was suited for the distribution from plantations.