Memorial lecture on legendary GMR Rampala
The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) will commemorate Sri Lanka’s legendary General Manager of Railways, late B. D. Rampala. The 2008 B. D. Rampala memorial lecture is to be delivered by Eng. (Dr) P Ramachandran of the University of Moratuwa on November 17, at 5.15 pm at the IESL Auditorium at 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. The lecture is titled “Significance of Railway Transportation in Supply Chain Management.”
The Ceylon Government Railways, shortened as CGR, was established by the British rulers to cater to the needs of the economy in that era. All vital positions at the CGR were held by Europeans for almost a century. Engineer B D Rampala who joined the CGR after completing his engineering education recorded a first by becoming the first Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1949.
Although armed with theoretical knowledge, he was famed as a practical engineer, who provided a practical solution to the problem at hand.
During his career at the CGR, Eng. B D Rampala was elevated to the position of the General Manager of Railways {GMR) in 1955, the position he held until 1970. History of the CGR notes him not only to be the longest serving General Manager of Railways but also as a GMR who introduced many revolutionary changes and innovations that enhanced the image and turnover of the CGR while also providing a better service to the public.
The enhancements made during the “Rampala Era” made his name synonymous with the railways. Long distance express trains such as the Yal Devi, Udarata Menike and Ruhunu Kumari, which were introduced in mid 1950s and proved extremely successful in terms or revenue and service, were his brainchild.
In 1960s he took the initiative to dieselize the entire fleet of steam engines that were becoming obsolete and inefficient. The whole operation was carried out successfully under his skilful guidance improving the train service greatly. The centralized traffic control system for the suburban service was also among the many modernizations introduced by Eng. B. D. Ramapala as GMR.
It is said that he was dubbed as the cleverest engineer east of the Suez after correcting a technical defect in the hydraulic transmission of a batch of locomotives imported to the country when experts from the manufacturing company failed to find a solution.
Being a good engineer did not stop him being a good manager. He was a good manager and a strict disciplinarian too. Anecdotes of this engineering colossus are still doing the rounds in workshops as well as offices of the CGR.
Source: Daily Mirror
