Despite the government saying that a special train service will be in operation for the Poson Poya period, there was no train for the pilgrims to return to Colombo.

Passengers alleged that the situation was created by issuing them tickets without noticing that there were not enough trains.

   

Thousands of pilgrims arrived at the Anuradhapura railway station on the morning of June 15, but no special train bound for Colombo arrived until 2.00 pm.

Later the Yal Devi train arrived at around 2.00 pm but all the 2nd and 3rd class passengers could not get on it causing a severe unrest.

Some passengers protested against the return of their tickets and asked if they could withdraw money. The Yal Devi train left for Colombo disappointing the passengers.

Meanwhile, there was a strong protest from the passengers saying that a security guard at the railway station had provided transport facilities to several passengers in the control room of the train on the pretext of his identity.

In the face of continued protests from passengers, the railway authorities later resorted to deploying a normal power set.

“We have to buy a second class ticket and go to a powerset. Don't the authorities know that more trains need to be put on Poson day? The man is leaving, ”the passengers shouted.

Passengers continued to ask the station master why they had issued tickets if they knew there was no train.

Meanwhile, some passengers had telephoned the Anuradhapura railway station to inquire about the balance of the ticket.

As it is practically impossible to give the balance to all the passengers, a telephone recording of an official of the station asking them to come in person and collect the balance at the railway station is being circulated in the media.