UNP MPs ride the railways on fact-finding tour

Tuesday, 12 August 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UNP fact-finders ride from Panadura-Bambalapitiya during rush hour
GM Railways avoids meet with UNP MPs, Deputy claims he was hospitalised
Transport Minister Secretary Dhammika Perera later informs opposition MPs GM is in his office
Harsha says state officials bound to meet MPs and members of P’ment oversight committees PAC and COPE
Railways need investment in locomotives, passenger compartments and a suburban line
600,000 use railways daily vs. 35,000 using Mattala airport per annum: Eran

UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva in deep thought as he commutes with rest of passengers in a train as part of UNP MPs inspection tour - Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana By Dharisha Bastians A group of United National Party Parliamentarians continuing fact finding tours of state run institutions ran into familiar problems Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) yesterday, finding senior officials unwilling to meet with them and large crowds protesting against their visit. Opposition Legislators Eran Wickremaratne, Dr. Harsha De Silva, Ajith Perera, Ajith Mannapperuma and R. Yogarajan commenced the latest installment of the UNP Gaveshana Charika (Fact-finding tours) with a visit to the Panadura Railway station at rush-hour on Monday morning. Speaking to Daily FT after the tour, Wickremaratne noted that there was a major investment gap with regard to Sri Lanka Railways, when 600,000 people commuted daily. “This compares to 35,000 who use the Mattala Airport per annum. The Rs. 5 billion in losses compared to SriLankan Airlines losing Rs 26 billion?” he charged. Wickremaratne said the Government continues to invest in the airline. “If there was continued investment in railways, the losses incurred by Sri Lanka Railways would really be a quantum leak, compared to the social benefits it would accrue,” he said. Wickremaratne noted that he would stress on the difficulties faced by women commuting by train in their report. “Public transport must be women sensitive. These women go through this because they have to earn a livelihood. The conditions, the struggle to get in and the crushing inside the compartments are really terrible for female passengers,” the UNP MP told Daily FT. “Thousands waiting to get in to two trains out of three. One got cancelled without notice. Women are put through unspeakable agony... getting pushed, shoved. This is the reality. Not the Wonder expounded by them. Instead of millions for yachts put money for trains,” UNP Parliamentarian Harsha de Silva posted on his Facebook page while at the station. After speaking with commuters at the station, the MPs boarded trains to Colombo fighting the throng, with MPs Wickremaratne and Perera managing to mount the first train, leaving the others to follow in a later train. Dismounting at Bambalapitiya the UNP Parliamentarians proceeded to Sri Lanka Railways Headquarters in Maradana. Despite informing the General Manager Railways of their impending visit and received written confirmation of the delivery of that letter, the senior official was not present to receive the MPs, De Silva said. “His deputy did not know anything about our visit. She said the GM had never never informed either her or anyone else of our visit. On our inquiries, she said GMR had slipped and fallen on the stairs and had to be taken to hospital,” de Silva said following the tour. Subsequently the official called other managers and officers for the discussions with the UNP MPs. During the meeting, De Silva said they received a call from the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and business tycoon, Dhammika Perera. “He told me that the GM was at his office because he thought the visit was going to be to the Transport Ministry. He was not sure if we were to visit the GMR or himself and that they were waiting for us at the Ministry. Having reminded him our letter said GMR’s Office, he promised to send the GM back in ‘10 minutes’, which never happened even after one whole hour,” De Silva noted. Large crowds of railway workers also protested against the visit by the Opposition MPs outside the GM’s office, the UNP said. “It was strange how about 500 paid supporters of the political hierarchy of SLR was transported by bus from Ratmalana. This rent-a-mob shouted obscenities at us and attempted to block the entrance like at Sapugaskanda refinery,” MP De Silva said. The MPs also managed to visit the main control room and signals centre during their visit, avoiding the protesting crowds by using a side entrance at the suggestion of SLR officials, Wickremratne said.