It is reported that the Canadian locomotive number 591 of the M2 class, which was stranded during the 2004 tsunami, was not allowed to be used for this year’s symbolic memorial run.
Accordingly, the Railway Department had taken steps today (26) to operate the ‘Tsunami Train’ to Matara using a replacement locomotive to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the tsunami disaster.
The Railway Department has stated that the original locomotive, which has been used regularly for this memorial run in the past few years, cannot be used this time due to a technical fault.