Sri Lanka Railways will operate additional trains for the benefit of devotees during the Poson festival.

Railways Deputy General Manager (Traffic) M. J. Indipolage special trains will be in operation covering all areas where Poson festival is celebrated on a grand scale.

He said people mostly use trains to reach the respective areas during the Poson season. Twelve special trains and 10 regular trains will be in operation covering such areas from June 2 to June 5, 2023.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Information Department, Indipolage said the first train is scheduled to start from Colombo Fort railway station to Anuradhapura on June 2 at 01 pm. Another train will leave for Anuradhapura from Fort Station on the same day at 4.40 pm.

A train bound to Anuradhapura will start at 8.15 pm from Galle railway station on June 2. On June 3, a train is scheduled to run from Colombo Fort at 7.05 am and from Beliatte station at 7.30 am to Anuradhapura.

On June 3, the train is scheduled to run from Anuradhapura to Colombo Fort at 5 pm and to Galle at 9.30 pm. He further stated that a special night train from Kosgama to Maharagama and from Maharagama to Kosgama is scheduled to be operated to facilitate the devotees visiting the Homagama Poson zone.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa stated that the Sri Lanka Police has prepared plans to implement the programme to ensure security and prevent violence in the Poson Zones.

Civil police officers and intelligence officers have also been deployed for the protection of the pilgrims and the traffic police are also going to be deployed to limit the possible traffic on the road.

In the meantime, he also mentioned that police life protection officers and awareness officers have been deployed to reduce the possible loss of lives due to drowning in lakes in nine police areas around Anuradhapura and Mihintale.

He emphasized that more attention should be paid on the use of the loudspeakers as the G.C.E OL Examination is being held.