Railway station without a name
The Train Halt No.1 between Wadduwa and Kalutara North Railway station on the coastal railway line is the only nameless railway station in the country, perhaps in the whole world, identified by a number.
It is said the naming of the railway station located on the boundary of Waskaduwa and Potupitiya villages created a dispute. When the Railway Department named it as Waskaduwa, the residents of Potupitiya protested against it claiming that the railway station was in their village and it should be named as Potupitiya. However, the residents of Waskaduwa insisted that the railway station located in their village should be named as Waskaduwa.
An elderly person of the area said this controversy led to a tense situation, compelling the Railway Department to identify the railway station as Train Halt No.1 on the instructions of then Minister of Transport Sir John Kotalawela to avoid any possible clash between the two parties.
However, the Train Halt No.1 is today in a dilapidated condition with the controversial name board lying on the ground. Although, the residents of the area once disputed over its name, the railway station looks like nobody’s business today with its surroundings and the access road covered with shrub jungle.
The residents of the area pointed out that the population in the area increased in a large percentage for the last 50 years and that more than 500 train commuters including season ticket holders take train from this railway station. They stressed the need to improve the railway station and to re-name it in consultation with the representatives of the two villagers.
By Kusal Chamath
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: access road, controversy, dilapidated condition, kalutara north, name, north railway, railway department, railway line, railway station, season ticket, train commuters, Wadduwa
