One person was killed and another seriously injured on Sunday afternoon when a three-wheeler collided with a train at a railway crossing near the Ganegama Purana Temple in Aluthgama.
The three-wheeler driver died at the scene. The injured passenger was admitted to Nagoda Hospital for treatment, police said.
Ada Derana identified the train as the “Sagarika”, which had departed from Maradana Railway Station. Hiru News, whose correspondent reported from the scene, placed the collision at the Ganegama crossing and said a heated situation developed among the crowd that gathered there.
Residents block the line
Following the collision, residents staged a protest by blocking the coastal railway line. They said the crossing is particularly dangerous because it is fitted only with warning signals and bells and has no safety gate.
The protesters alleged that similar accidents have occurred repeatedly at the location, and accused the authorities of failing to take adequate measures to improve safety there.
The demonstration disrupted train services along the coastal line.
Police later intervened and held discussions with Railway Department officials. After the authorities assured residents that steps would be taken to address the crossing, the protesters called off the demonstration. Services along the coastal line have since returned to normal.
Repeat location
Aluthgama saw a similar fatal collision in June, when a three-wheeler driver was killed by the Office Express at the Depot Road crossing in the same town — a separate crossing on the same corridor.
Ungated level crossings remain a recurring cause of fatal accidents across Sri Lanka’s rail network. Neither outlet reported the identity of the dead driver, and no figure was given for how long services were held up.
