A 23-year-old Russian woman was killed after being struck by an express train at the Kabalana railway crossing on Saturday, Ada Derana reported.
The train was travelling on the Southern Line from Beliatta to Colombo when the accident occurred. Police have not released the victim’s name or confirmed whether she was a tourist or a resident of Sri Lanka, and the circumstances of the crossing — whether barriers were down and whether the woman was on foot or in a vehicle — have yet to be detailed in official statements.
Kabalana lies on the coastal Southern Line between Ahangama and Midigama, a stretch popular with foreign visitors for surfing and beach tourism. The line was extended to Beliatta in 2019 and express services now regularly run through the area at higher speeds than the historical coastal schedule. The same crossing was the scene of a four-injury collision between a BMW SUV and a train in May 2025, raising repeat concerns about safety at the level crossing.
Russia is a major source market for Sri Lankan tourism, with Russian visitors consistently among the top five arrival nationalities. The Russian embassy in Colombo has not issued a public statement.
Police investigations into the accident are ongoing. A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted before the body is released to relatives or the embassy.
