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The Minister of Transport as well as the General Manager of Railways
are reported to have publicly announced recently that with the
importation of new railway carriages from China, the railway service in
the country would improve.
It is common knowledge that railway engines and carriages constitute
only one segment of the rail transport system.
The authorities have allowed the railway lines, the signal system and
also the rolling stock to deteriorate due to poor maintenance over the
past few years, and thus the new carriages would face the same fate in a
few months.
In other countries, even in neighbouring India, the railway carriages
are washed and cleaned, and all items checked daily to ensure that they
are in proper working condition. Just see the state of our railway
lines.
The sleepers are not level and as a result, the railway line is also
sunk on one side. Why doesn't the GMR just walk a few hundred metres
along the rail-line, towards the Regal Theatre and may be beyond and see
for himself the state of the railway line.
In the past, the GMRs' such as the famous Mr. Rampala used to go
regularly in the small rail car (or Dakkuwa as it was called) with the
engineers and check the condition of the rail tracks.
But today the authorities responsible for running the railway rarely
if not, never travel by train but in the luxury of air-conditioned cars.
It is time the GMR took steps to improve the railway line network,
thereby reducing the delays that occur at present in the running of
trains to schedule.
TILAK FERNANDO,
Colombo 6
This letter is written in appreciation of the services rendered by
the above hospital to a large number of patients who seek outdoor
treatment.
All medicine supplied is free of charge and the doctors as well as
other staff including those who dispense medicine are duty conscious and
very courteous and they are always prepared to help the patients
irrespective of their status.
The medication has been effective in curing many patients. I wish to
thank the Chief Minister and the Minister of Health of the WPPC for
having provided this hospital which is well maintained with all
facilities available.
It is an immense benefit specially to poor residents of Moratuwa and
Panadura.
PADMINI GOONESEKERA,
Panadura
All articles written by J. B. Muller, were excellent. It's a pity to
see criticism regarding the second one.
I had some good friends from this community - educated and not so
educated and they are excellent. Regarding racism - they do not
understand what the word means.
L. De Silva
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