Transport Minister unveils plans to uplift railway

Shirley Wijesinghe

COLOMBO: The Treasury has given the greenlight to revive the passenger railway service by allocating funds.

A real change in the service will be apparent after a couple of months, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Addressing a special media conference at the Ministry yesterday, the Minister said despite passing the worst era of the Sri Lanka railway service history, the Ministry proposals for a better public passenger transport service was accepted by the Treasury Secretary.

Alahapperuma stressed the contribution of the passenger railway service to the National Transport System was confirmed in the National Transport Policy of the Government as emphasised by the Mahinda Chintanaya.

He said 15 power sets will be on track before mid next year and another 10 to 15 Locomotive Engines are expected.

The railway network will be repaired and all casuals, substitutes and daily wage earners recruited to the Department from time-to-time will be absorbed to the permanent cadre.

“There were no political appointments to the Railway Department after I took office and there will be no change in the future,” he said.

Alahapperuma also stressed that the conversion of the present railway passenger service was not simple but said it could be done with the assistance of clever and efficient workers.

Railway Department General Manager Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said if his efforts fail before the end of next year, he would submit his resignation.