Sri Lanka Railways is operating 131 fewer passenger train services each day than before Cyclone Ditwah, according to figures disclosed in Parliament on November 6, as the department continues efforts to return inactive locomotives and power sets to service.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena provided the figures while responding to a parliamentary question from MP Dhanushka Ranganath.
The railway previously operated 331 passenger services daily.
That number has fallen to 200.
Freight services remain at 28 daily, according to the Deputy Minister.
Passenger services reduced by 39.6%
The difference between the previous and current passenger schedules is 131 services per day.
Dividing that reduction by the previous total of 331 gives a decline of approximately 39.58%.
The current passenger schedule therefore represents approximately 60.42% of the previous service count.
These percentages are independent calculations based on figures provided to Parliament.
They measure the number of scheduled services and do not establish an equivalent reduction in passenger numbers or railway revenue.
Locomotive availability below operating requirements
The Deputy Minister said 84 locomotives and 106 power-set engines are required to operate the full railway schedule.
Only 49 locomotives and 82 power-set engines are currently operational.
| Equipment | Required | Operational | Shortfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locomotives | 84 | 49 | 35 |
| Power-set engines | 106 | 82 | 24 |
The figures indicate that approximately 58.3% of the required locomotives are currently operational.
For power-set engines, the corresponding proportion is approximately 77.4%.
These calculations compare available equipment with the quantities identified as necessary for the full schedule.
Nearly 100 withdrawn units considered repairable
The Deputy Minister said 47 locomotives and 48 power-set engines have been temporarily withdrawn from service but remain suitable for repair.
That represents 95 units of railway equipment identified as potentially returnable to operation.
The announcement does not provide an estimated repair cost for the withdrawn equipment.
It also does not identify how many units are expected to return to service during the remainder of 2026.
The availability of repairable equipment does not establish that all 95 units can be returned to service immediately.
Repairs underway at Ratmalana
The Deputy Minister said repair work is being undertaken at workshops operated by the Sub-Department of Mechanical Engineering in Ratmalana.
Minor repairs are being carried out at locomotive depots under the department’s motive power operations.
The government also intends to outsource repairs involving several locomotives to external parties.
The parliamentary statement does not identify the companies that may receive those contracts.
No procurement values or completion dates were disclosed.
The figures presented to Parliament establish the current equipment and service shortages. A timetable for restoring the previous passenger schedule has not been announced.
