The Sri Lanka Railway Department is considering shifting certain night mail trains to daytime operations in areas frequently visited by wild elephants, following safety concerns raised by train drivers and unions.
Kasun Chamara Jayasekara, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMU), said recent schedule adjustments caused confusion and inconvenience for passengers. “Several night mail trains from Colombo to Trincomalee, Colombo to Batticaloa, and Moratuwa to Kankesanthurai ran without advance seat reservations yesterday. The lack of prior notification led to public criticism at stations,” he explained. He noted that while the changes were requested by the Railway Drivers’ Union, it remains uncertain whether daytime operations will meet the needs of passengers who rely on night trains to arrive on time for work or other essential tasks.
From a safety perspective, the proposed change is intended to reduce the risk of elephant-train collisions. Chandana Wiyanduwa, Secretary of the Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union, told Ada Derana: “A train cannot stop instantly to avoid hitting an elephant. Nighttime operations pose the highest risk. We have requested the government and Railway Department to implement preventive measures, and they have assured us a solution is forthcoming.”
The proposal underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing public transport efficiency with wildlife conservation in areas where human and elephant habitats intersect.
