Sri Lanka Railways has announced the resumption of the Pulathisi Intercity Express Train and the Ella Odyssey tourist train, as well as special trains for school students. 

According to the Railway Department, the Pulathisi Intercity train service will resume operations from January 9, 2026. 

It will run every Friday from Colombo Fort to Batticaloa, and every Sunday from Batticaloa to Colombo Fort. Plans are in place to increase the number of train compartments in response to passenger demand.

Train operations:

• Train No. 6075 departs Colombo Fort at 12:45 pm and arrives in Batticaloa at 8:07 pm.
• Train No. 6076 departs Batticaloa at 4:00 pm and arrives in Colombo Fort at 11:30 pm.

Meanwhile, the Ella Odyssey tourist train will resume operations from January 7, 2026. 

Sri Lanka Railways states that the above train services have been introduced to meet the increased demand from the public. (Newswire)

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A 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection to the train e-ticket scam related to the Ella Odyssey train service.

The Police said the suspect was arrested near the Kandy Railway Station yesterday. 

The suspect, a resident of Kadugannawa, was found to be in possession of two train e-tickets and two mobile phones. 

The Criminal Investigations Department is conducting further investigations into the scam.

This is the latest arrest to be made in connection to the train e-ticket scam related to the Ella Odyssey train service.

Last week, three suspects were arrested in connection to the scam, which was brought to light after all tickets were sold out 42 seconds following the launching of online tickets.

During a recent discussion of the Kandy District Coordination Committee meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena raised concerns over the large-scale racket related to e-tickets for train services to Ella.

Disclosing information on this racket, he noted there have been cases where groups that buy all the online tickets immediately are later seen selling a ticket worth Rs. 2,000 for Rs. 16,000 to foreigners. (Newswire)

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Two more suspects have been arrested in connection to the e-ticket scam related to the Ella Odyssey train service.

Police Spokesman Buddhika Manathunga said a total of three suspects have been apprehended as of now by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

He further said that a technical officer of the Railway Department was arrested in Trincomalee yesterday with 92 e-tickets in his possession. 

During interrogation, the suspect revealed that he intended to sell the e-tickets to foreign and local tourists for higher prices. 

Police Spokesman Buddhika Manathunga said that another suspect involved in the e-ticket scam was also arrested in the Matale area yesterday.

The CID had also arrested a 37-year-old man in Kandy yesterday, while in possession of 29 train e-tickets and Rs. 130,670 of cash earned through the scam. 

The Police Spokesman said that the arrested suspects are due to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today.

He added that the CID is continuing investigations into the e-ticket scam related to the Ella Odyssey train service.

The e-ticket scam related to the Ella Odyssey train service was brought to light after all tickets were sold out 42 seconds following the launching of online tickets.

Addressing the Kandy District Coordination Committee meeting last week, Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena raised concerns over the large-scale racket related to e-tickets for train services to Ella.

Disclosing information on this racket, he noted there have been cases where groups that buy all the online tickets immediately are later seen selling a ticket worth Rs. 2,000 for Rs. 16,000 to foreigners. (Newswire)

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