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Special team to probe derailment on Batticaloa track

Defence, Civil Aviation, Highways and Transport Minister Tilak Marapana yesterday appointed a special team consisting of General Manager-Operations K. A. Premasiri and General Manager-Technical N. F. U. K. Fernando to determine the cause of the derailment of the inaugural train on the newly built track from Valachchenai to Batticaloa.

The two Railway high officials who left for Batticaloa yesterday on the direction of Minister Marapana will investigate and report direct to the Minister about the cause of the derailment of the inaugural train that journey on a newly built track from Valachchenai to Batticaloa.

The preliminary investigations revealed that General Manager Railways Priyal de Silva had organised this inauguration attended by the State Minister for Transport.

It was revealed that even before the team could reach Batticaloa another train got derailed causing much embarrassment to the department.

It was also revealed that this track is deficient of sleepers, that there is insufficient or no ballast and in some parts have been laid on sand. It was alleged that this track was built under the supervision of the General Manager and that the Engineers of the Way and Works Department have not certified the track as safe for travel.

A District Traffic Inspector also had warned the authorities not to use the track in its present incomplete condition.

In another investigation it was revealed that on April 4, a double railway line from Wadduwa to Kalutara North was inaugurated by the General Manager with the State Minister for Transport as the Chief Guest without a "train ticket" in an area where the colour light system was functioning.

These two systems were not compatible to be in operation simultaneously and had all the potential for a major train disaster.

It is a matter of time before a major train disaster would occur causing serious loss of life unless the Railway Department management is not streamlined.

Minister Marapana had directed the two Railway high officials to conduct a fair and impartial investigation in order to bring the person or persons responsible for this state of affairs that has recently been plaguing the Railway Department.

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