COLOMBO- Sri Lanka will import locomotives from China to meet a demand for more passenger trains in the country, the Sri Lankan railway department said on Friday.

The department said that orders have already been placed for 13 locomotives including at least two air-conditioned trains from China.

According to the Sri Lankan railway department the trains will be mainly used to transport passengers on long distance routes on the island.

Sri Lanka has very few air-conditioned trains and the department said that train passengers have been requesting for more air-conditioned trains to be used for long journeys and for tourists.

The railway department said that the 13 locomotives will arrive in the country between April and December next year.

The Sri Lankan government suspended the import of 17 power sets from India in March this year and launched an investigation into the quality of the imported power sets.