Angry reactions over suspension of train services

A move by the Railway Department to limit upcountry train services due to a shooting of a joint Indo-Sri Lanka film on the iconic Nine Arches Bridge has drawn angry reactions from commuters and railway employees.

The Railway Department on Tuesday announced that the upcountry trains from Colombo and Kandy will terminate at Ella or Bandarawela from October 9 until October 15 due to shooting of the film.

As a result trains will not proceed to Badulla between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m while trains heading in the opposite direction will start from Ella or Bandarawela instead of Badulla during this period.

The night mail trains will operate as usually.

However, persons who had booked tickets to Badulla from Colombo and those traveling from Badulla to Colombo complained that they were not informed in advance.

Spokesman for the Station Masters Association Sumedha Somaratne said that they were even informed just 24 hours before the plan came into effect.

General Manager Railway N.J.Indipolage said that the company concerned had made the payments only yesterday.

He said that a payment of Rs 23 million was due.

However, railway employees said that it was not an excuse that the payment was made at the last minute as the railway was a public property.

They said it was also having an adverse influence on tourism as some of the tourists were also affected by the sudden cancellation of trains.

CAPTION; PIX OF THE THE FILM SHOOTING IN PROGRESS

Pix by Prasad Rukmal in Ella