Maha Sivarathri appeals postpone rail bridge repairs

In view of the Maha Shivarathri Festival on February 13, train services between Medawachchiya and Thalaimannar will not be suspended, the Government said.

Train services along this line were earlier due to be suspended from February 1 for two months to carry out repairs to railway bridges.

Transport Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva told the Sunday Times that following appeals from the Hindu community, he directed the General Manager Railways to postpone the work till the end of the Maha Shivarathri Festival.

In its appeal to President Maithripala Sirisena and the Transport Minister, the All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) had pointed out that on the eve of Maha Shivarathri which falls on February 13, a large number of Hindu devotees would attend the religious ceremonies at the Thiruketheeswaram Sivan Temple in Mannar.

The Federation of Hindu Religious Associations and Temple Trustees in Sri Lanka also had urged the authorities to defer the repair work be deferred till February 15 to enable devotees to visit the Thiruketheeswaram Temple.

An ACHC official said that the organisation had been appraised of the Minister’s directive to Sri Lanka Railways to postpone repair work on the track. He thanked the Government for the prompt action.