Unions say govt. is on the track to privatise Railway Department

The convenor of the Organisation to Protect Railway Workers and Properties (OPRWP), Sumathipala Manawadu, told BBC Sandeshaya that allowing Rail India Technical Economic Services (RITES) to maintain railway tracks is a step towards privatisation

RITES, a Government of India Enterprise has been awarded the maintenance of the Galle-Matara from August.

He told BBC Sandeshaya that the Railway Department workers carrying out maintenance were consequently transferred to other sections.

"This is an attempt to gradually privatise the Railway Department," he said.

"These workers managed to repair the track destroyed by tsunami within 52 days while RITES and other companies were asking for one and half years."

Denying trade union accusations, the Commercial Superintendant of Railway Department, Vijaya Samarasinghe, said the contract was offered as part of the Indian aid project.