Cabinet minister leads a moment of silence for a teenage boy who died after falling off train roof

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister led a moment of silence during a media briefing in Colombo on Tuesday (12), after a teenage boy died in a tragic train accident, earlier in the day.

An 18-year-old died after falling from the roof of a train near the Horape railway station between Ragama and Kelaniya.

The incident was reported at a time when railway passengers were inconvenienced due to the trade union action launched by train engine drivers.

The deceased youth, a resident of Moragoda, Gampaha, was undergoing training at a technical training institute in Moratuwa.

The Railway Control Room said the youth boarded the office train from Kandy to Colombo Fort at the Ragama railway station.

A witness said that the deceased was traveling on the roof of the train and fell near the Horape railway station.

Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Bandula Gunawardena led a moment of silence during the media briefing held at the Department of Government Information to comment on the decisions taken by the Cabinet Ministers.

"Prior to announcing the decisions reached by the Cabinet, as the Minister in-charge of transportation, I would like to express my condolences to the young boy who died in a tragic train accident, as a result of the strike launched by railway employees," said the Minister.

Bandula Gunawardena, who is also the country's transport minister, said that he had requested the president to declare the railway service an essential service with effect from midnight on Tuesday (12).

Railway locomotive and power-set engine drivers launched a strike at midnight, citing several issues surrounding the recruitment and retirement processes.

Several morning office trains were cancelled, and this severely inconvenienced passengers who were already at railway stations.