General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways, J.I.D. Jayasundara, expressed outrage today (17 January) over a viral video showing a group of locals performing massage therapy for foreign tourists on a train, calling it “very insulting.”
Speaking at a press briefing today, the Railways GM clarified that the incident did not occur on a regular passenger train operated by Sri Lanka Railways but on a special train hired by a private travel company.
“According to the reports I’ve received, this did not happen on regular trains like the ‘Odyssey’, ‘Udarata Manike’, or ‘Podi Manike’. It was a private train hired for tourism purposes,” he explained.
Jayasundara assured that measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. He stated that an investigation has been initiated, with Tourist Police involvement, to identify the responsible parties and recover any losses incurred. Legal action is also being pursued.
“This is not just a matter of departmental integrity—it reflects on the country. We will ensure accountability,” he added.
