The government has decided to close southern railway line for six months states ‘Lanka’ Sunday newspaper.
According to ‘Lanka’ the government has come to this decision after signing an agreement with Rites, a government of India enterprise on 1st August.
Though the government states the agreement is for the modernization of the southern railway line Railway trade unions state the southern railway line has been sold to the Indian company. General Secretary of the All Ceylon Railways General Employees Union Sumathipala Manawadu says the 36 mile stretch from Galle to Matara would be completely closed down according to the agreement. He points out that the intended projects of Matara – Kataragama line and the stretch from Avissawella to Ratnapura on Kelaniwali line started after spending billions had to be abandoned due to foreign companies acting in contravention to the agreements arrived at.
Lankatruth