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It was recently reported in the newspapers, that the Organization for
Protection of the Properties and Rights of Railway Employees (OPPRRE)
had protested to the Government against the handing over the contract to
re-install or re-lay the rail track to Jaffna. They had gone further to
state that their members could do it for a lesser amount. But the
question remains will and when will they complete it? It is no secret
that the Foundation for the laying of the railway lines from Matara to
Kataragama was laid in the early 1990’s during the period of President
Premadasa.
Almost 20 years have passed and still the trains do not run beyond
Matara, which was built by the British engineers over a century ago.
Most of the rail tracks in use today such as the one to Kandy,
Trincomalee etc, have been built by foreign engineers using Sri Lankan
labour sans any modern machinery but with mammoty, shovel, pick-axe
crowbar etc, I suggest the OPPRRE should stop criticizing the Government
as to who should do what, but put their heads together and start work to
complete the laying of the rail track to Kataragama.
Had this job been assigned to the former General Manager the late B D
Rampala during his tenure of office, I am sure it would have been
completed ahead of schedule.
Tilak Fernando
Colombo
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