Railways to be made leading passenger transport service
Minister Dulles Alahapperuma is optimistic of making the train service the country’s leading passenger transport service as assured in the “Mahinda Chintana”.
Speaking at a ceremony organised to introduce the new railway carriages imported from China to service, the Minister said this was only a beginning. He recalled that the President in launching the “Mahinda Chintana” in November 2005 gave a prominent place to strengthening the state transport sector. He said that a colossal sum of money was being spent on the import of carriages, locomotives and power sets in the midst of a struggle against terrorism.
243 carriages are needed to maintain a streamlined service. Such a need has arisen as new carriages had not been introduced to the service after 1992. The government, drawing its attention to this dire need, took initiatives to import new carriages suitable for the country.
These were introduced to service at the Maradana railway station. Minister Alahapperuma revealed that five power sets will be introduced to service by April next year, in addition to 15 locomotives next year. The train with new carriages operated up to Aluthgama. Ministers A.H.M. Fowzie, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Felix Perera, and Railways Manager Lalithasiri Gunaruwan were present.
Parliamentarian Basil Rajapakse airing his views said such initiatives taken by the government on behalf of the development of the country should not be misinterpreted. He appealed to all political parties to support the government for the success of these development programmes.
Video: ITN News Report
Source: ITN
Tags: carriages, diesel multiple units, locomotive, maradana, passenger transport, railway development, stainless steel, streamlined service, transport service
