Three railway officials suspended over Nawalapitiya incident

COLOMBO (News 1st); Three officials have been suspended in connection with an incident in which two foreign nationals were allegedly assaulted by a group of employees at the Nawalapitiya railway station.

Railways General Manager H.M.K. Bandara said two station masters and a railway controller were suspended, and a comprehensive investigation is underway regarding the incident.

Two British nationals who were traveling in the Podi Manike train from Colombo to Badulla found themselves embroiled in an ugly incident on Tuesday (05).

Their journey commenced at the Kandy railway station.

Upon investigation, Railway Superintendent N.J. Indipolage revealed that the duo had been removed from the train, citing that despite holding third-class tickets, they had occupied seats in the first-class compartment.

President of the Sri Lanka Railways Station Master’s Association Sumedha Somaratne confirmed that a railway guard had instructed the foreign passengers to disembark.

Despite these instructions, the two foreigners had refused to vacate the train compartment, and Sumedha Somaratne noted as a result they were removed from the train.