A major train collision was narrowly averted earlier today on Sri Lanka’s coastal railway line between Panadura and Moratuwa, following a critical malfunction in the color light signaling system.
A slow train traveling from Panadura to Colombo Fort proceeded after receiving a green signal, unaware that another train was already operating on the same track and in the same direction. Disaster was avoided thanks to the quick thinking and vigilance of the train driver.
Chandana Wiyanduwa, of the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union, confirmed the near-miss and blamed a serious failure in the signaling system. “It was only the attentiveness and expertise of the engine driver that prevented a tragic accident,” he said.
The union has formally raised the issue with railway authorities, demanding an immediate investigation. Wiyanduwa warned that unless the faults are urgently addressed, operators may be forced to suspend services on the coastal line to ensure passenger safety.
“This isn’t just a technical error—it’s a matter of life and death,” he stressed, adding that the union will allow a short grace period for authorities to resolve the issue.
