Facilities for disabled at rail stations

Nadira Gunatilleke

Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda has made arrangements to provide access facilities to railway stations for the use of the disabled, Minister’s Coordinating Secretary Nelson S. Edirisinghe said.

Edirisinghe said as Head of the National Council of the Persons with Disabilities, Devananda has granted Rs. 931,617 to Sri Lanka Railways General Manager to carry out the constructions at railway stations.

The Chief Engineer of Railways has made arrangements to provide toilet facilities and access ways at Fort, Maradana, Slave Island, Ragama, Seeduwa and Ratmalana railway stations on the General Manager’s instructions, he added.

Edirisinghe said arrangements have also been made to install television monitors at railway stations for the benefit of hearing impaired persons. Television monitors have already been installed at the Maradana railway station. Steps have been taken to install electric lifts to enter platforms at Maradana railway station and Rs. 276,960 has been paid to the Railways Department.

Rs. 144,575, Rs. 35,894, Rs. 520,000 and Rs. 131,148 have been paid to Slave Island, Ratmalana, Seeduwa-Ragama and Fort Railway stations for the construction of electric lifts.

A committee comprising representatives from the organisations of persons with disabilities, Director and the Deputy Director of the National Council of the Persons with Disabilities, General Manager and Chief Engineer of Railways will be appointed to oversee the provision of accessibility facilities, he added.