By Norman Palihawadane
The Ministry of Transport has handed over the investigation into alleged attempts to sabotage the operation of Ella and Seethawaka Odyssey luxury trains.
The CID sources said that the investigation had been referred to them by the IGP following a request by the Minister of Transport that it suspected there had been a plot to disrupt the Ella and Seethawaka Odyssey luxury train project.
The Ministry of Transport sources said that the reason for the investigation was an attempt to sell a ticket for around 100 US dollars through the Internet to a passengers traveling on the Ella Odyssey train.
Sources said that some firms had attempted to sell a ticket online for 36,000 rupees each to passengers travelling on the Ella Odyssey. In addition many acts of sabotage have been reported, such as the Seethawaka Odyssey tourist train not running on time when the train was fully booked and full of passengers.
Ministry sources said that the IGP has been requested to probe whether a conspiratorial plan is being implemented in the Railway Department to sabotage this popular programme.
The special long-distance train services with tourist attractions such as Ella-Odyssey and Seethawaka Odyssey were introduced to attract foreign as well as local tourists and the services have grown to a point where demand couls not be met.
The CID sources said that they commenced an investigation on the matter.