The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMA) has raised concerns over the resumption of train services on the Talaimannar railway line, alleging that operations have restarted without restoring the railway signalling system.
SLRSMA Chairman Sumedha Somaratne said the line, which had remained closed for several months, was reopened on the instructions of the Minister without ensuring that the signalling system was fully operational.
He stressed that operating trains without a properly functioning signalling system poses a safety risk and should not be permitted.
“The Minister always says, ‘Officials, get on board to put this back on the right track.’ However, he has not invited the trade unions to participate. We have constructive proposals to offer, and we are not engaging in anti-government rhetoric. Despite repeatedly raising these concerns, we have been continuously excluded from the process and no meaningful solutions have been provided. Therefore, we strongly protest the hasty resumption of train operations,” Somaratne said.
He further claimed that the signalling system beyond Medawachchiya, on the section that had remained closed for an extended period, is still not operational.
Somaratne questioned who would be held accountable if an accident were to occur as trains continue to operate during the early hours of the morning without a functioning signalling system.
