Sri Lanka Railways Superintendent of Transportation, Asanka Samarasinghe, said initial investigations revealed that iron bars attached to a railway switch point had been removed, causing the track mechanism to loosen and resulting in the derailment. He noted that authorities suspect either sabotage or theft.
Police have launched a forensic investigation at the scene, while the Sri Lanka Police have already arrested one suspect believed to have removed bolts from the railway track. The suspect, taken into custody by the Peliyagoda Police, is reportedly a drug addict. Investigators are also searching for another individual linked to the incident.
The derailment left 12 passengers with minor injuries. Most were admitted to nearby private hospitals, while one injured passenger was transferred to National Hospital of Sri Lanka for treatment.
