Employees urge safety measures
Railway employees have urged Sri Lanka Railways to strengthen its security to protect its properties and the lives of railway commuters against possible terrorist attacks.
Organisation for the Protection of the Properties and the Rights of Railway Employees (OPPRRE) has requested Railway Minister, Dulles Alahapperuma to introduce a proper security system to safeguard railway property and the staff since the railway has become a prime target of LTTE terrorism.
“Although the railway’s security and the government security are providing protection to the Fort and Maradana railway stations it is still inadequate as most of the trains that reach the Fort railway station stop near the Kovil between Maradana and the Fort railway stations. This could be the ideal place for terrorists to get into a train with explosives and cause mayhem at the Fort railway station,” Convener, OPPRRE, Sumathipala Manawadu said.
Manawadu told The Morning Leader that the time has now come to deploy more security along the railway lines and said that the Railway Department too has to set up a more efficient and trained security contingent since those who are presently attached to the security section lack adequate defence skills.
“Apart from the lack of skills those who are trained for the job too are not well paid. They have to work more than eight hours but have been deprived of overtime or any other allowances. In that backdrop the department cannot expect a satisfactory service from them,” Manawadu said.
As there are chances for a possible attack at one of the main railway stations Manawadu has suggested that the department verify the background of all shop owners within the railway station premises and to remove all illegal houses along the railway lines.
“First, the department should see if the shop owners are genuine as the terrorists could get the support of these traders to carry out attacks. Secondly, the government should provide alternate houses to those living in shanties along the railway lines and remove all the illegal structures. In the meantime if the government could provide adequate security to all main railway stations and along railway tracks then that alone could avert any major attacks in the country,” Manawadu further said.
By Nirmala Kannangara
Source: The Morning Leader
Tags: commuters, government security, maradana, proper security, railway department, railway employees, railway lines, railway minister, railway station, railway stations, satisfactory service, sri lanka railways
