RPF nets Rs 16m in fines

Irangika Range

The Sri Lanka Railways Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested 42 people traveling without tickets and other offenses during a special raid in trains operating between Colombo and Mahawa (857) Rs 16,000 was collected in fines.

RPF Sub Inspector W S Jayasekara told the Daily News that the raiding team comprising 24 officers attached to the Colombo Fort, Maradana and Kandy railway stations had boarded the Colombo-Mahawa train from Ambepussa at 6.30 a.m. Some were fined travelling without tickets while others were fined for travelling second class using third class tickets, travelling beyond the destination mentioned in the ticket, trading and begging.

Thirteen passengers who failed to pay the fines were released on surety bail under Section 12 of the Railways Act. They have been given two weeks to pay their penalty.

“If they are unable to pay the fine during this period, they will be produced before courts,” he further said.