The Sri Lanka Station Masters’ Union alleges that train operations on the Up-country railway line resumed following renovation work without the approval of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
Train operations on the section of the line from Colombo Fort to Peradeniya and Gampola which had been closed for nearly ten months due to severe damage caused by Cyclone ‘Ditwa’ resumed on the 2nd of this month.
However, within two days of operations restarting, the very first office train to depart from Peradeniya station for Colombo Fort at approximately 4:35 a.m. today (5th) derailed.
The derailment occurred after a mound of earth and rocks fell onto the railway track in the area between Ihala Kotte, Kadigamuwa, and Gangoda.
The train’s engine and one carriage derailed because the earth and rocks were not clearly visible to the driver.