A transport train derailed between at around 5.30pm yesterday between Watagoda and Thalawakele railway stations, causing serious damage to the railway track.

This accident temporarily closed off the Colombo-Badulla rail transportation. The Nanu-Oya Railway Station had arranged for the transport of passengers arriving on the Badulla-Colombo night mail from Nanu-Oya to Hatton by buses. However, no arrangement had been made in Hatton to transport them to Colombo. This created a tense situation in early hours this morning, and the police was called in to control the situation.

The passengers were sent to Colombo by another train. Meanwhile, the Colombo-Badulla night mail was stopped at Hatton until repairs of the rail track is completed.