No show by railway employees

15 February 2011 11:53 am - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Railway employees will not take part in the official opening of the Galle-Matara railway line which will take place tomorrow since the Government had chosen to contract with Indian company as opposed to local railway employees to build the tracks.

All Ceylon Railway Employees General Union, General Secretary, Sumathipala Manawadu said that there are inefficiencies in the railways department but said that it is partly due to the lack of trust and reliance the authorities have in the work of local railway department workers and engineers.

“After the Tsunami in 2004 we worked collectively to rebuild the broken tracks. We worked hard and were committed in our efforts to rebuild the tracks, but now they have forgotten this,” Manawadu said.

He said that if the necessary raw materials and technology is provided, railway employees could finish the track within a shorter duration and at a lower cost than the Indians that have been hired for the task.

“Foreign stakeholders such as the India charge some Rs.650 million to construct one kilometer of the railway track. We on the other hand informed the authorities that we could do the job for Rs.450 for each kilometer,” he said.

He said railway employees could have easily been hired as opposed to a foreign party and that if there was a shortage of human resources, the Government could have made the initiative to hire local youth that are there in the thousands and are in need of jobs.

“The authorities are wasting tax payers’ money through such projects without utilizing the local resources that are readily available. We will not be attending the railway opening because of this,” he said. The development of the Galle-Matara railway line is the first stage of the Colombo-Matara railway project. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

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Comments - 24

Guru Tuesday, 15 February 2011 06:30 PM

MR has to listen to the Big brother and to you railyway employees of SL.

citizen Wednesday, 16 February 2011 06:34 AM

Seems like speed is more important that lives; gates should have been installed before the service begins.

citizen Wednesday, 16 February 2011 05:56 AM

GIS sri lanka has sent this out via sms to citizens: CGR warns public to be cautious as speed train service commences today between Galle and Matara has over 90 unprotected level crossings.

anton Wednesday, 16 February 2011 05:54 AM

Its still possible, the most difficult part is from Rambukkana to Kadugannawa (28km) but even now trains cruise at 40 kmph and beyond kadugannawa the speed could reach even 60kmph upto nawalapitiya. It is not that much "slow" as many people think!

Dammika Wednesday, 16 February 2011 05:08 AM

Wise move. If anyone wants to admire or see what our Sri Lankan engineers are capable of watch National Geography channel documentary regarding the rebuilding of damaged railway lines during tsunami.
Then talk

local boy Wednesday, 16 February 2011 05:08 AM

why not, join us as a sweet laboureri

Darwin Wednesday, 16 February 2011 03:14 AM

Arm chair "so called patriot" who may not have see a railway track or locomotive.

MagodisThuma Wednesday, 16 February 2011 02:37 AM

The only opportunity we have is...selection of stupid politicos !

wijaya Wednesday, 16 February 2011 12:39 AM

please sit in the house and see the opening ceremony in the television.

aswin welikala Tuesday, 15 February 2011 08:52 PM

Are you trying to go backwards you silly. I allways go with progress the forward way

Kotte Kusum. Tuesday, 15 February 2011 07:26 PM

Well done boys . Stick to your guns. Why do we need the Indians when our boys can do a better job. Which minister got his pocket full from the Indians.

chooty Tuesday, 15 February 2011 06:33 PM

politicians earn in billions with foregn contracts.

local boy Tuesday, 15 February 2011 01:08 PM

CGR, useless entity with lots of political henchmen

rosh Tuesday, 15 February 2011 06:12 PM

Howcome a highspeed rail track could be built on the curvey n hell bending upcountry line? This is pure commensence.

rosh Tuesday, 15 February 2011 06:10 PM

Yeah go ahead. Thats all you are capable of. Typical JVP style of pulling the leg when some development happens.

Moda Johny Tuesday, 15 February 2011 04:54 PM

where is the patriotic JVP & Hela urumaya? they will be so quiet. We are only good to export our woman to middle east. I challenge you try to protest like Egypt & will be killed Tinaman square.

KHKaru Tuesday, 15 February 2011 04:46 PM

Most foreign loans come with strings attached. They give the loan with one hand and get it back by way of (their own) machinery/equipment, and wages of (their own) work force with the other hand. So, grin and bear, SLR guys.

dilan Tuesday, 15 February 2011 04:26 PM

Should privatize the Railway....Then they will start working.....

Shyamali Tuesday, 15 February 2011 01:58 PM

But you guys could go in as labourers according to the Contractors!

waseer Tuesday, 15 February 2011 01:58 PM

why only on matara & Galle. ? Since its mahinda Rajapakse area? WHY NOT KANDY AND OTHER AREA

sanjee Tuesday, 15 February 2011 01:35 PM

Nobody remember "TSunami" time repairing the railway track in 50 odd days ?

Cobra Tuesday, 15 February 2011 01:27 PM

And rightly so. One wonders for what purpose all these mega development projects the govt. has embarked on if the job benefits are going to aliens.

SL Lover Tuesday, 15 February 2011 01:29 PM

Really good move and decision, let GoSL and relevant authorites learn someting (of course not). People who love local capacities and resources with you.

tharanga Tuesday, 15 February 2011 01:09 PM

No point dear, government has so many requirements to meet india's loan terms. this may be one of those terms. your boycott will be a another show

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No show by railway employees

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