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Train locomotives imported for Rs. 700 m now abandoned: SLRSMU

02 Feb 2022

  • Station masters seek action over officials who imported the now abandoned locomotives
BY Buddhika Samaraweera  The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has claimed that eight out of 10 locomotives which were imported from time to time since 2019 have now been abandoned on the railway yards as they are not fit to be operational on the existing railways, which has caused losses to the Railways Department to the tune of millions of rupees. Speaking to The Morning, SLRSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara emphasised that the Railways Department should take action against the officials responsible for the importation. He alleged that out of the 10 locomotives imported from India at a cost of Rs. 700 million, only two are in operation. “The locomotives imported from India weigh about 120 tonnes each, but the locomotives that are usually purchased by the department weigh 60 to 80 tonnes. Due to the weight of these locomotives, they cannot be operated on the existing railways. Even though two of them are currently in operation, they constantly derail,” he claimed. Commenting on the purchase of train compartments, he said: “Since 2019, 160 train compartments were imported from time to time from India at a cost of Rs. 2,400 million. But at present, those compartments are used only for two trains.” Chamara also said that a team of department officials had left for India to inspect the said compartments before purchasing them. However, he said that the Sub Department of Transport, which is a very important Sub Department within the Railways Department in matters related to railway compartments, had not been consulted. Speaking further, he charged that most of the purchases and other development projects carried out by the department are being carried out in a very informal manner and that action should therefore be taken against the officials responsible for the importation of the said locomotives and compartments. Railways Department General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara was not available for comment.


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