Featured: Railways development projects since 2006
The Railway Department has repaired 155 railway carriages and 26 railway locomotives since 2006 and these carriages and locomotives have been successfully introduced by the Railway into regular service. The department has also successfully renovated 122 Railway Station since 2006.
The Railway has been able to construct new railway bridges over Kaluthara, Keleniya, Pingwatta, Seeduwa, Ja [...]
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July 2nd, 2009
Railway employees numbering 17,000 are to be benefited in the way of getting distress alleviating payment, Transport Minister Dulles Alahapperuma said.
This would be in addition to the distress loan entitled for public servants. The cabinet has given approval to a cabinet paper submitted by Minister Alahapperuma to this effect.
Accordingly, employees of the Sri Lanka Railways would be entitled to this special payment when they become victims following derailments, train accidents, floods and other natural disasters.
The distress alleviating payments would be paid based on the time the employee subjected to the distress, vis-à-vis: Rs. 200 an hour for the first 6-12 hours and Rs. 300 an hour exceeding 12 hours.
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Source: dailymirror
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July 1st, 2009
The Government has decided to reconstruct the stretch of the Northern railway line between Jaffna and Kankesanthurai (52 km) on a special request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to strengthen the railway services for the benefit of the people living in the Jaffna peninsula.
Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that reconstruction work had already begun from Kankesanthurai to Palali.
“It is expected that this step will pave the way for speedier travel by train and thereby save valuable time of the Northern population who had not travelled by train for over 30 years due to suspension of the service owing to LTTE terrorism,” the Minister said.
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June 30th, 2009
One hundred and thirty persons travelling in second class compartments in trains without valid tickets were nabbed by the Railway Security Service during raids conducted on the Galu Kumari, Ruhunu Kumari, Sagarika and other trains on the coastal line on June 26.
Among the suspects are six women who are Government servants, said Railway Security Assistant Superintendent Anura Premaratne.
Source: Dailynews
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June 29th, 2009
A van that had gone down a precipice in Haputale had fallen on to the railroad track and then been struck by a goods train and thrown off the track.
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June 29th, 2009
The Ministry of Education has decided to gift the Elephant Pass railway station to the northern as an ‘Affection Port’ with the contribution from all Sri Lankan students and teachers under the ‘Uthuru Mithuru Yal Devi Train Concept’ mooted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The decision was arrived at by the ministry to inculcate the vital ingredient of patriotism in the minds of the student population in the country and thereby lead them towards the transformation of the theme of one country, one people.
In keeping with this noble move, the student population will contribute a meagre Rs.two towards the reconstruction of the Elephant Pass railway station.
In accordance with this concept, the ministry will declare the fortnight between July 7-19 as the ‘ fortnight of students’ strenght’(Rataka Sisu Diriya) with several projects planned for implementation.
Source: News.lk
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June 28th, 2009
Sri Lanka’s state-run railways is discussing a deal with Pakistan Railways to rehabilitate track damaged in an internal war and upgrade passenger coaches, a media report said.
Pakistan Railways will rehabilitate 250 kilometres of war damaged track, the Pakistan Observer website said.
The reported quoted Pakistan Railways chairman Samiul Haq Khilji as having told a board meeting of Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Services that agreement had been reached during visit to Sri Lanka from June 14 to 21.
Pakistan Railways will also rehabilitate 600 passenger coaches, for Sri Lanka Railways and 500 4-wheeler freight coaches will be converted to 8-wheelers.
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June 28th, 2009
Much has been said and written about the Yal Devi lately. As a regular traveller on this train in bygone days, I feel I should share my experiences with readers.
The Yal Devi was a very comfortable train. You got into the Utthara Devi after lunch and you reached Jaffna in time for dinner. The same way, you got into the Yal Devi early morning and reached Jaffna in time for lunch. The train was kept very neat and tidy, the toilets were clean, and there was a good catering service with courteous staff.
The Yal Devi thundered along the rail tracks for decades until it was stopped in its track by the separatist terrorists, who believed the train was working against their ideals, because the Yal Devi brought together the people of the North and the South.
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June 27th, 2009
Sri Lanka government is to give permanent appointments to a group of temporary employees in the Railway Department.
The Railway Department said the letters of appointment for permanent employment will be handed over tomorrow to a group of 500 temporary employees who have been working in minor capacity at selected railway stations island wide.
The employees are to be deployed at their current railway stations for daily routings following their permanent appointments.
Sri Lanka Railway Department hopes to step by step make all its temporary basic employees permanent in the future.
source: Colombopage.com
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