Train malfunction due to circuit failure

25 March 2011 01:10 pm

The Indian supplier of the 20 power sets to the Sri Lanka Railways, Rites Ltd has accepted that the inaugural journey of the Indian locomotives stalled due to a technical failure on their power set circuits.

The government has put a purchase order for 20 power setsb  from India at a cost of US$ 70 million, (approximately Rs. 7.5 billion). However, the inaugural journey from Matara to Colombo on March ran to a snag when the power set was broken down near Hikkaduwa.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama ordered an inquiry and suspended the contract, a spokesman of the Transport Minister said.

He said the Executive Director of the Indian company, V.K.Jaine accepted the electrical circuit failure at a discussion held today at the Ministry chaired by Minister Welgama and attended by Minister Dammika Perera. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)