An audit of the Sri Lanka Railways Department for 2024 has revealed that 49% of train journeys—amounting to 58,693 trips—were delayed last year, while 5,305 trains (4.2%) were cancelled.

Out of 125,036 scheduled journeys, only 61,038 operated on time.

The audit attributed delays to staff shortages, ageing locomotives, slow repairs, modernization delays at the Ratmalana factory, and adverse weather conditions.

It also found that 439 of the country’s 1,362 railway crossings remain unsafe, causing 385 accidents between 2020 and 2024, which resulted in 37 deaths and 105 injuries.

Additionally, the audit revealed 660 derailments, 585 breakdowns, and 13 collisions during the same period, with investigations into most accidents still incomplete. 

The report urged the Railways Department to take immediate action to improve punctuality, safety, and accountability.