Arts and culture to sooth hard grind of rail workers

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: The hustle and bustle of life in the unending grind of railway workers is to be infused with a degree of serenity with a decision by Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma to set up an Arts and Culture Unit at the Railway Department.

The Minister announced his decision to set up an Arts and Cultural Unit at the Railway Department at a meeting with Railway trade unions last week.

The meeting was held at the Transport Ministry where the minister emphasised the importance of having a cheerful workforce to provide a quality railway service.

“The new Arts and Cultural Unit is expected to serve that purpose, to bring out those hidden artistic talents within railway workers,” he said.

“This will pave the way for them to work with contentment against rough working conditions,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry Secretary has directed the Railway Department heads to submit a list with the names of Railway Department workers with talents for singing, acting or playing musical instruments.

Transport Ministry sources said a number of senior artistes had volunteered to support the Railway Department’s Arts and Cultural Unit’s efforts on Alahapperuma’s request.