Operations along Eastern railway line hampered over fire

Train operations along the Eastern railway line have been hampered owing to a fire that broke in a section Habarana and Gal Oya.

The Railway Department says that several tracks had caught fire due to this.

Steps were taken to replace these tracks with new tracks.

The Railway Department had sought instructions on steps to be taken from officials of the Ministry of Transport and Highways.

Another fire was also reported near the Upcountry railway line. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Forest Conservation says that reports of fires in forests have hiked in the recent past.

It says that fire were reported in Yahangala, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya last night.

As a result, forest areas of 500 hectares in Yahangala reserve, 170 hectares in Badulla district and 25 hectares in Nuwara Eliya have been destroyed.