Sri Lanka suspends import of S-11 power sets from India

Minister of Transport Kumar Welgama has suspended the import of the rest of the order of S-11 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) from India.

Sri Lanka ordered twenty S-11 power sets from India and three of them were brought to Sri Lanka. However, defects were reported when they were launched on the rail tracks.

India officially handed over the three power sets for Southern Railway Line at a ceremony last Friday (11) in Matara.

Minister Welgama said at a meeting held in Agalawatta yesterday that the defects in the train sets were reported to President, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The power sets are being imported under an Indian credit line. The value of one DMU is US$ 3.5 million.

RITES Ltd, a company run by the Indian government, is supplying the DMUs to Sri Lanka Railways. India is to supply the 20 DMUs in a phased manner till March 2012. (Colombo Page)