Sri Lanka Railways enhances fuel transportation

The Department of Railways has imported 15 Oil Tank carriages from Pakistan to expand transportation of fuel through the railways. These oil tank carriages have been imported under the Pakistani Aid Programme. Each tank has the capacity of storing eleven thousand gallons.

The General Manager of Railways B A P Ariyarathna said that transport of fuel to Galle and Matara by railway will commence today.  He said that in addition to the Southern Province, the railway will also transport fuel to Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Puttalam.  He also said the Department expects to increase its revenue by using the railways for transport of fuel and cargo.  And thereby help  reduce congestion in the roads and minimize the transportation costs.

Meanwhile, the Railways Department has also imported 3 new engines from India, under the railway lines modernization programme.  These engines will help to enhance train services in the recently modernized Southern coastal line which was declared open jointly by the Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama and the Indian Parliamentary Delegation last Thursday. (niz)