Special insurance scheme for train travellers
 

BY RAJMI Manatunga

IN the aftermath of the world's largest train disaster in Pereliya, Telwatta, the Railways Ministry has decided to launch a special programme to insure train commuters.

Railways Minister Felix Perera told the Daily News that the Ministry has already called for quotations from a number of insurance companies for implementing the programme immediately.

"The tragedy at Pereliya highlighted the need for a comprehensive insurance scheme to compensate for deaths and injuries suffered during train accidents.

A special Commission has already been appointed to probe and explore the possibility of compensating the victims of the Pereliya accident," he said.

Minister Perera said that the insurance scheme will be implemented using Railways Department funds.

"However, passengers who travel ticketless will not be covered by the insurance scheme and will not be entitled to compensation accordingly.

"Therefore, we hope that the present ticketless travelling rate (40 to 25 per cent) will also decrease after this programme," he added.

Over 1,500 people were killed while travelling on a Matara-bound express train when tsunami waves hit the island's coastal areas on Boxing Day 2004.

A special commission headed by a former judge is probing the incident.