A major scam involving the resale of rail tickets at exorbitant prices has been exposed during the Badulla District Development Council meeting.
Badulla District parliamentarian Ravindra Bandara revealed that an organized group of racketeers is purchasing large quantities of train tickets and reselling them at inflated prices to tourists travelling to upcountry destinations such as Nanuoya and Ella. Reports indicate that a single train ticket from Colombo has been sold for as much as LKR 40,000. Touts at railway stations approach tourists and offer these tickets at premium rates.
The Station Master at Ella, Asendra Disanayaka, acknowledged the existence of this scam and admitted that it is being facilitated by certain railway employees. He further revealed that while procedures exist to verify National Identity Card (NIC) and passport numbers to prevent bulk ticket purchases, these measures are not consistently enforced.
Dharma Harshadeva, a licensed tour guide, criticized parliamentarians for failing to take decisive action, stating that it is their responsibility to stop such irregular practices rather than shamelessly admitting these issues are out of control. Janaka Dunusingha, representing the Licensed Travel Guide Lecturers Association, highlighted that this racket is not limited to upcountry routes but also affects travellers to popular destinations like Sigiriya.
The Deputy General Manager of Railways, N. J. Indipolage, confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). He emphasized that tickets will only be valid for travel if the NIC or passport number matches the details on the ticket, warning that mismatched tickets will be deemed invalid.
