Railway General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya said on Friday that re-railing operations of the derailed ‘Sagarika’ train have already commenced and that services on the Coastal Line are expected to be restored within two days.

Addressing the media, he said the Minister had instructed officials to take all necessary measures to minimise inconvenience to passengers.

Commenting on the incident, he said: “The damaged train is a significant loss for us, especially as our fleet is already limited. We have incurred this loss and hope to rectify the situation promptly. However, we will need to deploy an alternative train in its place, and discussions are currently underway.”

The ‘Sagarika’ train, operating from Beliatta to Maradana, derailed near the Wadduwa Railway Station on Friday morning (24), causing severe damage to one track of the dual-line section.

The Railway Department has since restricted services on the affected Coastal Line up to Panadura Railway Station.

Arrangements have been made to transport passengers from Panadura to South Kalutara by Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses, from where train services will resume towards Matara and Beliatta.

Meanwhile, the Department said efforts are underway to clear the obstruction and restore at least one track by the end of the day.

Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) have announced that registration of ‘Dansal’ organised islandwide in view of the upcoming Vesak Poya has already commenced.

President of the Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors Union (PHIU), K.P. Boralessa, said that organisers intending to conduct ‘Dansal’ are required to inform and register with the PHI attached to the relevant area.

He said organisers must also provide details of the location and the type of ‘Dansal’ being conducted.

Following registration, PHIs will conduct awareness programmes for organisers on maintaining required health and safety standards during the conduct of such events, he added.

Boralessa warned that legal action would be taken against those who organise ‘Dansal’ without proper registration or in an unsafe manner.

He further said PHIs will inspect venues on the eve of each ‘Dansala’ to assess suitability, including waste disposal arrangements, availability of drinking water, quality of water used for cooking, and condition of equipment at the site.

In addition, those involved in food preparation and serving will also be inspected to ensure hygiene standards are maintained, he said.

“These measures are taken to ensure that food provided at ‘Dansal’ is safe and hygienic for the public. Special attention must be paid to the ingredients used, and only healthy ingredients should be utilised,” Boralessa added.

Health authorities have warned that Measles, a disease previously eliminated in Sri Lanka, has re-emerged in the country.

According to the Health Ministry, two cases involving children have been detected in the Colombo District, raising concerns over a possible resurgence.

Officials have urged parents to ensure that children who have either not received the measles vaccine or have received only a single dose complete the full immunisation schedule without delay.

Sri Lanka was declared measles-free by the World Health Organization in 2019. However, health officials note that sporadic outbreaks have been reported in certain areas since 2023.

A senior official of the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, said that although no cases had been reported since January 2025, the recent detection of two infections was a matter of concern.

He stressed the need for immediate preventive measures to prevent a potential outbreak. Laboratory analysis of one case, conducted in India, confirmed that the virus had been imported.

Dr. Liyanapathirana further warned that measles could have long-term health consequences, noting that recent research indicates the disease may weaken immunity and reduce resistance to other infections.

He also highlighted the risk of a rare but fatal complication known as Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), which can develop several years after apparent recovery.

Health officials emphasised that recovery from measles does not eliminate all risks and urged parents to remain vigilant even after a child appears to have fully recovered.