Govt. seeks investor to build 100 railway coaches

• Govt. focus on quickly expanding capacity 
• 140 coaches also ordered from India

Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Transport Ministry to seek a private sector investor to manufacture 100 railway passenger coaches in an attempt to upgrade Sri Lanka’s rail transport system. 

According to State Minister of Plantations and Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Sri Lanka is currently in need of 700 rail passenger coaches and the need will grow to 800 units in the next five years. He noted that the Government was focused on improving efficiency and capacity of the public transport system with rail being a key pillar in providing services.   

“The existing railway passenger coaches are of different ages. About 30% are 30 years old, 60% are 25 to 30 years old and 10% have been in service for 12 years or less,” Dr. Pathirana explained, pointing out that a renovation project by the State sector and local companies have seen 140 coaches refurbished and back in service. The Government has also ordered 160 passenger coach units from India. 

However, the need to add more capacity expeditiously has convinced the Government to seek private sector participation in compliance with government procurement guidelines to manufacture 100 carriages locally, Dr Pathirana said.