Suspended train services to resume today

By Buddhika Samaraweera

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Station Masters' Union (SLSMU), Kasun Chamara said train services that were suspended during the weekend, will resume today (23).

He said 104 trains will operate as usual but will not stop at stations located in areas which have been designated as isolated areas. 

The stations where trains will not stop at are Maradana, Dematagoda, Kelaniya, Wanawasala, Horape, Ragama, Walpola and Batuwatte on the main railway line and Peralanda, Kurana, Negombo and Kattuwa on the Puttalam railway line. Additionally, trains on the Kelani Valley railway line will not stop at Baseline railway stations.

Several new office trains will also be added in the coming days after considering the prevailing, situation Chamara said. However long distance trains and parcel delivery services are currently not operating.  

Meanwhile, the Railway Department has taken steps to provide face masks, hand sanitisers and other safety equipment required to ensure the health of staff at the railway stations. 

Chamara re-iterated that they intend to continue supplying new stocks of PPEs to railway stations since the facilities provided are sufficient only for a few days.