Private sector participation to develop Railway service
Dullas says obtaining its know-how would not be tantamount to privatization.
Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said he would not hesitate to obtain the assistance of the private sector to make the Sri Lanka Railways an efficient and productive state asset that fulfills the aspirations of the public and commuters in particular, if the Railway Department hierarchy continues to fail to deliver.
Addressing the 51st Annual Convention of the Railway Guards’ Union at Mount Mary Hall, Dematagoda on Saturday, Minister Alahapperuma emphasized that obtaining the management and administrative know how of the private sector will not in anyway amount to privatization of the Railway Service.
In apparent disappointment and displeasure over the performance of the present management of the Railway Department, Minister Alahapperuma stressed that his prime objective was to develop the railway service to a level where the commuters, railway employees and the public are satisfied.
“The policy of the government is not to sell any state property and as such the privatizing of the railways or selling its assets to the private sector does not arise. However, providing a satisfactory railway service to the public is of paramount importance and the strategy used to achieve that objective is immaterial. Hence, I will not hesitate to obtain private sector assistance if the existing managerial and administrative skills are not up to the expected standard,” Minister Alahapperuma emphasized.
Minister Alahapperuma told the gathering that he was determined to personally discuss the outstanding issues of the railway employees with the Salaries and Cadres Commission.
Cabinet approval has been obtained to add a uniform and shoe allowance to the salary of the railway employees instead of supplying the material. The allowance will be paid from 2009.
Outlining the new measures that had been taken to improve the quality of the service he said the minimum educational qualifications for the recruitment of Railway Guards will be a university degree from 2009.
He expressed his gratitude to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his unstinted support to develop the railway service and for the highest budgetary allocation for 2009.
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: administrative skills, aspirations, cabinet approval, commuters, minimum educational qualifications, performance, prime objective, private sector assistance, privatisation, railway department, railway employees, railway service, recruitment, salary, sri lanka railways, state property
