The arrest of a railway gate operator for reporting to duty under the influence of alcohol has raised broader concerns about internal oversight and security within Sri Lanka Railways, senior officials said yesterday.
Railway Spokesman Asanka Samarasinghe confirmed that the operator, Sudath Dhammika — an assistant attached to the Company Road railway station and secretary of the Railway Clerks’ Parallel Services Association — was taken into custody at the Uttarananda railway crossing in Kollupitiya, a high-security zone frequently used by diplomats and top government officials.
The incident has prompted the Ministry of Transport to suspend Dhammika immediately, with all payments ordered to be halted. Officials noted that the breach occurred at one of the most sensitive railway crossings in Colombo, underscoring what they described as a “serious lapse” in internal supervision.
Several employees also alleged that Dhammika had been linked to prior activities intended to create friction within the railway service — concerns they say were overlooked until the latest violation came to light.
The Ministry is now facing renewed calls to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and tighten disciplinary procedures to prevent similar security risks at critical locations.
