The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMA) has alleged that train services on the Upcountry Railway Line were resumed following repair work without obtaining clearance from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
Train services between Colombo Fort and Peradeniya and Gampola resumed on October 2 after being suspended for nearly 10 months due to extensive damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
However, just three days after services resumed, the first office train operating from Peradeniya to Colombo Fort today (October 5) derailed at around 4.35 a.m.
The derailment occurred between Ihala Kotte, Kadigamuwa and Gangoda railway stations after the train collided with a mound of fallen earth and rocks.
The fallen earth and rocks were reportedly not clearly visible to the driver, resulting in the locomotive and one carriage derailing.
Following the incident, passengers were taken along an alternative route to the Kadigamuwa bus road and transported by bus to Rambukkana.
The Railway Department subsequently arranged an additional train from Rambukkana to Colombo for the affected passengers.
