A private company said on Wednesday that it has kicked off Sri Lanka’s first metro railway project that is estimated to cost $600 million. Airport Express Air and Rail Company hopes to connect the country’s only international airport with the centre of the capital through a metro railway that will reduce the present travel time of around two hours to only 25 minutes, reported Xinhua. Company chairman Parimalan Rajo Isa Michael said that funds will be raised by selling stakes of the company’s equity to overseas companies.