Samurdhi beneficiaries to provide protection at railway crossings

our parliamentary correspondents

Road Passenger Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna told Parliament yesterday that the Government will employ Samurdhi beneficiaries to provide protection to passengers and motorists who pass through 900 unprotected railway crossings in the country.

The Minister was responding to a oral question raised by JVP MP Lakshman Nipunarachchi.

He said the total railway network in the country is 1200 kms.

"Around 208 incidents had taken place at the unprotected rail-road crossings last year," he pointed out.

It is reported that 16 people were killed and 29 injured due to accidents that took place at unprotected railway crossings," he said.