Sri Lanka, July 5 -- A train travelling from Chilaw to Colombo Fort narrowly avoided a major incident after encountering a critical signal malfunction near Ragama Railway Station.

The Railway Controllers' Association has warned that unless authorities swiftly address these signal defects, there is a severe risk of a massive train accident in the future.

Sri Lanka's railway colour light signalling system, introduced in 1962, operates on a very basic mechanism.

Unlike road traffic lights, railway signals provide complex and distinct commands.

The system primarily uses "Automatic Block Signal" posts, common across the network.

All these signals are controlled by the Central Railway Control Room at Maradana Railway Station, with suburban...