Running on a similar track to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) expansion project, the Sri Lanka Railways Department is making plans to construct an Internal Container Terminal (ICT) close to the commercial hub of Sri Lanka for the first time in the country’s history. 

“We have already chosen Veyangoda, Ratmalana or Sapugaskanda to go ahead with this container terminal,” a senior level official from the Sri Lanka Railways Department told the Daily Financial Times, adding that the final decision on the location will be taken in the near future.

The necessity to obtain Customs clearance at the Colombo Port will be circumvented once the terminal has been constructed because such clearance could be secured at the ICT premises itself, thereby reducing container traffic.

“As a result of this, congestion at the port premises will be reduced” the official said, highlighting the fact that the project had been given Cabinet approval. The project will be financially supported via a public-private sector partnership headed by the Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA). This latest venture is set to enhance the capacity of Sri Lanka Railways’ freight and logistics operations.

Speaking on the future plans of Sri Lanka Railways, the senior official was of the view that approximately 270 of the 300 trips operating in Colombo and its suburbs with the assistance of 15 newly-purchased Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) could be used for operations within the commercial suburbs while releasing loco-hauls (large old locomotives in use) for long distant routes.

“Last year we purchased 15 DMU’s and another 100 carriages from China, and now we are in the process of running them on certain schedules” the official said, noting that the island’s railway timetable will be revised in February. This would also help to reduce the travel time of trains operated within Colombo and its suburbs. He also stressed that some carriages which are being used hark back 50 years and that they are no longer fulfilling the requirements of transportation. It was also revealed that a new Tamping Machine had been purchased at a cost of Rs.225 million. This machine will be used to strengthen the rail tracks by carrying out sleepering and ballasting activities more efficiently, which would reduce travel time of trains. “The track maintenance work will be done very efficiently and in a systematic manner” said the official who wished to remain anonymous. Superintendent, Sri Lanka Railways, Vijaya Samarasinghe said that “We plan to run a daily train from Colombo to Anuradhapura from next month,” adding that the Department had already conducted two trial runs. “We will conduct trial runs from Colombo to Anuradhapura on January 16 to test whether the journey could be completed in three hours” Mr. Samarasinghe noted. Speaking to Financial Times, he noted that Sri Lanka Railways is also planning to introduce another train from Trincomalee to Batticaloa in February.

Sri Lanka meanwhile carries approximately 120,000 daily commuters on average and there was no significant drop in the number last year compared to 2007. The senior official also added that the Sri Lanka Railways has generated approximately Rs.4,000 million last year as revenue.
(LBO-15012009)