Southern coastal line restored

Rajmi Manatunga

Train operations on the coastal railway line were back to normal from yesterday with railway authorities managing to renovate the damage caused by the derailment on the Thotagamuwa bridge within two days.

According to the Transport Ministry, operations beyond Ambalangoda which were suspended after the fatal derailment, resumed last morning, following a test run over the repaired track and bridge Wednesday evening.

"As a result of the swift renovation, we were able to operate the Colombo bound office trains from Matara and Galle yesterday after two days, though with certain delays.

The bridge and the track have been restored and fully cleared by now," a Ministry spokesman said. Meanwhile, the cause of Monday's derailment which left three dead and 12 injured is yet to be concluded by the General Board appointed by the Railways Department to probe the incident.

"However, we are expecting an interim report from the Board within the course of tomorrow (4) setting out the loss caused by and the probable cause of the derailment," he added.