Passengers protest due to inadequate facilities
The Colombo bound “Samudradevi” express train from Galle was held up for more than one hour at Ambalangoda railway station last morning due to a protest staged by the passengers compelling the authorities to provide adequate facilities in the train. The protestors, most of whom were regular travellers including government servants, obstructed the railway line by laying sleepers. This resulted in a long delay of all morning trains from Matara and Galle. Meanwhile, an attempt to assault the organizers of the protest was prevented by police.
Secretary of the Office Train Passenger Organization Thushara Vithanage said the compartments in the “Samudradevi” train were replaced recently reducing it from 18 to 10 compartments. The old compartments with seating capacity of 120 passengers were replaced with new compartment with seating capacity of 72 passengers and the number of compartments reduced much to the inconvenience of the passengers who were already facing hardships due to the congestion in the train.
The train is fully packed when it reaches Ambalangoda and it is with great difficulty that the passengers from Ambalangoda board the train. The passengers are compelled to keep standing even in the toilets. We informed this to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Minister of Transport Dallas Allahaperuma but of no avail. We request the authorities to attach the old compartments to this long distance train”
The protestors called off the strike on the request of the police and the Officials of the Railway Protection Service, but warned that they would resort to similar protests if their demand was not met within three days.
By Yasas P. Mendis
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: ambalangoda, authorities, colombo, compartment, express train, government servants, hardships, inadequate facilities, inconvenience, long distance, matara, office train, passengers, protests, samudradevi, strike, toilets, travellers
