Sri Lanka: Information on the security checks carried out in the Madavatchi [Medawachchiya?] railway station (the first station after Vavuniya) in September 1996 on passengers bound for Colombo and on whether an army pass would be required to board the train
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LKA28032.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sri Lanka: Information on the security checks carried out in the Madavatchi [Medawachchiya?] railway station (the first station after Vavuniya) in September 1996 on passengers bound for Colombo and on whether an army pass would be required to board the train, 1 October 1997, LKA28032.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aad598.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on the security checks carried out in the Madavatchi railway station in September 1996 on passengers bound for Colombo and on whether an army pass was needed to board the train could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
The following information may be of general interest, however.
The attached map from the May 1993 edition of Sri Lanka: A Travel Survival Kit, indicates the railway lines throughout the country. The northern railway line from Kankesantural (north of Jaffna) branches near Medawachchiya, just south of Vavuniya (12). Additional information on the railway routes can be found in the Internet attachment entitled "The Rail Routes," last updated on 15 April 1997, that was downloaded on 28 October 1997 from the Model Railroad Club of Sri Lanka Website (http://infolanka.com/people/mrail/ MRCMAIN.HTM#NEWS). According to this attachment, there is a stop at Medawachchiya Junction.
According to the 27 October 1997 attachment from the Colombo Daily News, long distance express trains, including Vavuniya-Matara (the extreme south of Sri Lanka), Trincomalee-Colombo and Badulla-Colombo, have "no ticket examiners or even Railway securitymen (Railway Protection Force)."
For information on the tightening up of security in Sri Lanka's railway stations and trains following a 24 July 1996 bomb explosion at Dehiwela railway station, please consult the following attachments: Xinhua of 5 September 1996, 10 October 1996 and 18 December 1996 and the United Press International (UPI) of 25 November 1996.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Daily News [Colombo]. 27 October 1997. "Long Distance Trains: Second Class Ticket Holders Complain." [Internet] 27/inbrief.html#i3> [Accessed 28 Oct. 1997]
Noble, John et al. May 1993. 5th ed. Sri Lanka: A Travel Survival Kit. Hawthorn: Victoria, Australia.
Attachments
Daily News [Colombo]. 27 October 1997. "Long Distance Trains: Second Class Ticket Holders Complain." [Internet] 27/inbrief.html#i3> [Accessed 28 Oct. 1997]
Model Railroad Club. n.d. "The Rail Routes." [Internet] ,URL: http://infolanka.com/ people/mrail/RROUTES.HTM> [Accessed 28 Oct. 1997]
Noble, John et al. May 1993. 5th ed. Sri Lanka: A Travel Survival Kit. Hawthorn: Victoria, Australia, p. 12.
The United Press International (UPI). 25 November 1996. BC Cycle. "Tamil Suicide Bomber Hurts Police Driver." (NEXIS)
The Xinhua News Agency. 18 December 1996. "Sri Lanka Tightens Security on Trains." (NEXIS)
_____. 10 October 1996. "Sri Lanka's Railway Strengthens Security." (NEXIS)
_____. 5 September 1996. "Sri Lanka to Recruit Women for Enhancing Railway Security." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Sri Lanka Information Monitor: Situation Report [Colombo]. Monthly. January-September 1997.
The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. Monthly. January-July 1997.
Sri Lanka: State of Human Rights. Yearly. 1995, 1996.
Tamil Information [London]. Infrequent reports. July-September 1995 to June-September 1996.
Tamil Times [Surrey]. Monthly. 15 May 1997-15 September 1997.
Electronic sources: Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact two oral sources.