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Local train on the way

by Rajmi Manatunga

Sri Lanka is to produce its first ever locally manufactured train as a result of a joint venture between the Transport Ministry and a local vehicle manufacturer.

Transport Minister Felix Perera said the estimated cost for the new train to be manufactured by Micro Cars Ltd which produced the first Sri Lankan car is around Rs 42 billion.

"However, if we import a train as is the usual practice in Sri Lanka it will cost us over Rs 320 billion which is eight times more than the local production cost. This is why manufacturing trains required for our train service locally is important," he said.

According to the new program, the company plans to build on an imported train under-frame and design it into the train with modern facilities by using local expertise.

Minister Perera said that the program did not pose a risk for the Ministry since according to the agreement between the parties the Ministry has to make payments to the Company only if the experiment is successful.

"If this program proves to be successful there will be no need to import trains and carriages since the Ministry has already decided to continue with the program depending on its success," Perera said.

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