RAILWAY EMPLOYEES’ UNION BLAMES GMR
Low income from car park at Maradana Railway Station
The All Ceylon Railway Employees’ General Union (ACREGU) accused the General Manager, Railways P. P. Wijesekara allegedly leasing out the car park at the Maradana railway station that brought a considerable income to the department at a lower rent.
President of the ACREGU, S. P. Withana told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the car park at Maradana railway station brought an income of about Rs. 90,000 a month to the department.
But it has now been leased out to a private party for a monthly rent of Rs. 50,000.
“He has not called tenders for the transaction which is a violation of the accepted procedure. Transport Minister Dulles Alahapperuma has repeatedly said that the Sri Lanka Railways does not want to be a burden to the Treasury and is attempting to stand on its own feet by generating funds from its assets.
This is how the officials of the railway department are supporting the minister to achieve his goal,” Mr. Withana charged.
Besides, the department did not incur any expenditure to manage the car park. The entire income was a profit.
“It is only a couple of months since Wijesekara assumed duties as the GMR. If this is how the way he is going to improve the CGR, we can’t imagine what would happen to this important state institution in the future,” Mr. Withana added.
Mr. Wijesekara repeatedly declined to come to the phone when the Daily Mirror attempted to get his comments on the allegation.
By Sandun A. Jayasekera , Source: Dailymirror
