Production of railway carriages and indigenous thinking

by Somasiri Ranhaluge

The newspapers recently reported that an engineer of the railway workshop at Ratmalana is going to manufacture railway carriages which are essential for Railway Department. It is said that Sri Lanka spends about Rs. 35 million for the import of a train from abroad whereas the cost of production of same comes to about Rs. 4.5 million. The initiative of the Railway engineering staff have to be appreciated by all concerned in this regard.

As far as Sri Lankan engineer and others' efforts and initiatives are concerned they are not found wanting to many countries in the world. We have invaluable human resources that have not been put into proper use so far.

Instead, many of us have cultivated the habit of depending on foreign products ignoring our capabilities from time immemorial. Adding insult to injury, the open economic system has begun to distort the people's creative ability as a result of almost every item flowing into the country through flourishing open market.

The thinking based on the consumption of ready-made items - penetrated into the minds of the people leading to the callous disregard of abilities, experience and self-reliance of Sri Lankans who are able to create and produce almost everything that the country needs.

Those who emerge from the society, having been influenced by the indigenous thinking, were neglected by various sections of the society due to reasons best known to them. In this way, a thinking influenced by foreign cultural values took shape leading to the decline of creativity, experience and inborn talent of Sri Lankans.

However, there are many countries from which we can take the cue for the development of our country in many ways. India is a classic example for it. As a systematic and well-developed transport service, trains play an important role in India. The long distance trains are electric trains which help the passengers to travel to any State there. These trains are manufactured by India, considering their cultural needs and social environment.

Indians have cultivated a habit of drinking milk so that the production of milk can be promoted. It is a matter for regret that we import milk products from the Western countries in spite of the fact that there are various ways of developing milk production.

When it comes to considering the attitude of developed countries like USA and Japan, the open market system does not stand in the way of agricultural development there. For example it is said that the farmers in these countries are preserved by the Governments themselves. But, it is ironical that the Western countries instruct the developing countries like Sri Lanka to curtail expenditure on subsidies etc., given to farmers as relief measures.

When it comes to manufacturing of railway carriages for our own use, it is obvious that it can play a major role in saving a colossal amount of foreign exchange. On the other hand, it amounts to the utilisation of our human resources in a profitable way.

There are various shortcomings in the railway system that can be overcome by our own engineers and skilled workers. For example, the passengers who travel in KV line trains make complaints to the effect that some lapses exist on the part of railway authorities. Time consciousness is one of them. The leaking roofs of some carriages in rainy days have become a nuisance to them.

It goes without saying that trains render a great service as a transport service to the people. If the railway transport system can be developed with the use of experienced, talented engineers and skilled workers, then it will etch in the history of railway service.

It will also be a stepping stone to indigenous creativity which paves the way for a culture in keeping with our indigenous needs. The local production of railway carriages can be appreciated in this way.