Protest at Maggona hampers train services

Sarath SIRIWARDENA- Kalutara district roving corr and Beruwala special corr.

Office trains to Colombo on the coastal line were delayed for several hours yesterday morning at Maggona due to a protest campaign launched by residents in the area demanding the erection of a railway gate at the unprotected level crossing near Al Hassaniya Maha Vidyalaya. Over 1000 residents staged a protest by displaying placards and obstructing the rail track.

They also allegedly threw stones and other missiles at trains.

This protest was triggered by a recent accident which took place at this location involving a train and a van killing three persons and injuring several others.

Similar accidents in the past at this unprotected level crossing at Indiriligoda had also claimed several lives, protesters stated.

They requested authorities to install a rail gate immediately.

Police from Beruwala, Aluthgama and Payagala stations visited the scene and brought the situation under control.

Subsequently, train services were brought back to normalcy.