The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Association (SLRSMU) has raised concerns over what it describes as a worsening crisis in the railway service, claiming that the number of daily train journeys has fallen to below 200, compared to more than 420 services operated before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The General Secretary of the Union, Kasun Chamara Jayasekara said that prior to the pandemic, more than 420 daily train services, including passenger, mixed, fuel transport and freight trains, were in operation. According to him, that figure dropped to around 350 after the pandemic and later declined further to nearly 250 services.
He alleged that fewer than 200 train services are currently operating each day and that even those services frequently fail to adhere to published timetables. He also claimed that train cancellations have become a daily occurrence, noting that two services were cancelled today (15) alone.
The Association attributed the ongoing decline in services partly to the failure to properly modernize and maintain railway locomotives following recent crises. Jayasekara claimed that while public transport systems should have been strengthened during periods of fuel shortages, the railway sector had not received adequate attention.
He further alleged that despite the completion of upgrade work on the Talaimannar railway line, train services on the route remain suspended due to a shortage of locomotives. While four daily train services previously operated on the line, none are currently running, he said, adding that locomotives allocated to the route had been reassigned elsewhere, creating additional challenges on the Northern Line.
The Association also criticized railway authorities, claiming there is a perception among some officials that operating fewer trains reduces costs and improves financial performance, despite the impact on passengers.
Secretary Jayasekara called on responsible officials to intervene and restore train operations to at least pre-pandemic levels, while expanding services to meet growing public demand.
Commenting on the Up-country railway line, he noted that landslides had affected the route in the past and recalled that damage caused by a landslide near Kadigamuwa in 2022 had been repaired within days due to swift action by railway engineers and officials.
However, he expressed concern that more than six months after recent landslides between Balana and Upper Kadugannawa, authorities are still in the planning stage of restoration work. He also pointed to delays in work on the Peradeniya railway bridge and ongoing landslide-related issues in several areas between Rambukkana and Kadugannawa.
The Association noted that both the Railway Department and the government bear responsibility for failing to take sufficient action to resolve the situation despite having the capacity to do so.
