Two Passengers were killed, 15 injured when the Matara bound ‘Rajarata Rajina’ derailed at a bridge between the Hikkaduwa and Seenigama Railway Stations at around 12.40 PM. Initial reports claimed that 20 passengers have fallen into the river and two have drowned. the injured were rushed to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and the Galle Hospital. The Railway Control Room said that [...]
There are only a few among the living today who can recall the glory days of the Sri Lanka Railway. Rail travel was comfortable, affordable, and reliable. There are no improvements, no expansion, no innovation during the last 50 years. In fact the Railway appears to stand still after the British left Sri Lanka. There [...]
The Transport Ministry’s decision to recruit retired forces’ personnel to the Railway Department has irked railway employees, the All Ceylon Railway Employees’ General Union (ACREGU) said. One hundred and thirty-five retired forces personnel were recruited recently to the railway security department to enhance security. However Secretary, ACREGU, Sumathipala Manawadu told The Morning Leader that although [...]
Work on the rail track of the proposed new railway line connecting Matara and Kataragama is to commence this month. Railroad Development Director Planning Jayantha Gunatilleke said they will start building the first four kilometres of the 128 kilometre rail line within this month. The Rs. 9.2 billion project launched last year with the construction [...]
General Manager, Sri Lanka Railways (SLR), Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said that it is not fair for the public to blame the SLR for the unprotected railway crossings in the country. The General Manager was of the opinion that it was unfair and unreasonable for the road traveller to blame the SLR for the accidents at unprotected [...]
One hundred and fifty ex-servicemen joined the Security Force of the Railways Department yesterday to enhance the protection provided to railway commuters and property against terrorist attacks targeting public transport. The new security officers possessing expertise in detecting, defusing explosives and combating terrorist activities constitute the first batch of 600 ex-service personnel to be recruited [...]
The Railways Department will implement a special security plan from today to provide additional protection to the commuters and railway property in view of the prevailing terrorist threat. The Department recruited 130 officers with experience in the police and the security forces to the Railway Protection Force to be attached to the main railway stations [...]
The JVP affiliated National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) called on the government to reduce railway fares immediately or face serious consequences. Following the recent fuel price hike railway fares were increased by over 100% and NTUC has urged the government to reduce the fares and reinstate the facilities given to railway employees. President NTUC and [...]