Letters to the Editor

• Getting the rails on track again 
• Taken for a costly ride
• These remarkable times
• Waiting for the bus that never comes
• The forgotten voice of yesteryear
• Menace of deadly crossings
• Cattle rot and criminal act

Getting the rails on track again 

Despite concrete sleepers being laid on "continuous" steel rail tracks an accident of this magnitude occurred, much to the shock of commuters.

Railway accidents have occurred far too often during the past two decades. Seventy two year ago, one of the most serious railway accidents took place on March 12, 1928 when there was a head-on collision between two fast moving trains near Katukurunda, at about 7.45 p.m. Several compartments telescoped into each other as one of the trains moving to Matara, was an 'Express'. Twenty eight people died on the spot.

Thirty six years later, on October 18, 1964 another major railway accident took place at Vilwatte on the Kandy line, near Mirigama. Over sixty persons who were in this 'office' train died when the accident occurred at about 7.45a.m. More than a hundred of the commuters suffered serious injuries. On that fateful morning, over 300 Rover Scout Leaders were at a "Mini Jamboree" camping close by. On hearing the loud crash, they rushed with first aid kits and water bottles, to the site of the disaster, which was about 400 yards away. Under the Leadership of Gate Mudaliyar Lee Dassanaike (Asst. Chief Scout Commissioner who happened to be camping there) and also P.D. Fernando, a seasoned Scouter, they effectively cordoned off the scene. The Scouts went on their push cycles to the nearest police station, the railway station and hospital to break the news of the tragedy. Within a few minutes, relief parties of doctors and Police personnel arrived to take control of the situation there.

In more recent times, there was the incident when the LTTE delivered a note to the Signalman's Cabin at Gal Oya Junction on the Trinco Line indicating that the train should not proceed beyond that point. The note also carried a sketch of the 'skull and cross bones'. On reaching Gal Oya Junction Engine Driver Peterson who was in charge of the goods train was informed of the LTTE "order". He at first refused to proceed; but when an "order" came on the Railway Telegraph Service from the General Manager, he drove the train with an Army guard. The train went through deserted jungle territory for about two miles; when suddenly, the heavy diesel locomotive lost control and went off the track. The front of the train came to rest on a ten foot deep precipice. No one was injured.

The story of the railways in Ceylon began with Governor Sir Henry Ward (1855-60) who with considerable foresight, knowing well the prosperity that followed in England with the revolutionized transport system, cut the first sod for the birth of the Ceylon Railway Company in August 1858. That was exactly 143 years ago! The Company had 20,000 shares each of £50/- and was registered in London. However with the growth of the coffee and later tea plantations introduced by Thomas Liptonpressure was brought to purchase the shares in London and form the Ceylon Government Railway in 1861. It was then left to Sir West Ridgeway, Sir Henry Blake and Sir Henry MacCullum to improve upon the rail track, until Kandy, Anuradhapura and the Uva had been reached.

Today, the CGR employs over 7500 persons (all ranks) among them engine drivers, railway guards, station masters, "locoshed" workshop engineers and technicians, electricians, clerical hands and labourers.

It is worth recalling a few interesting incidents that have made history. Gate Mudaliyar G.F. Perera, one of the first Ceylonese General Managers of the Railway was a powerful figure during Colonial times. On his orders, the Galle-Colombo office train had to halt at 7.45 a.m. and at 6.15 p.m. for five minutes on a specially erected platform, at a point in Wadduwa, where he resided!

A few members of the State Assembly (Parliament too) travelled by train with a view to "learning first hand the thinking of the people they served". Mr Freeman, a popular State Councillor who though a Britisher, was returned to the State Council uncontested on three occasions, until his demise, always travelled by train. Others who likewise were train travellers were Prof. C. Suntheralingam who usually went to Mannar, Dr. W. Dahanayake of Galle and Buddhika Kurukularatne of Ambalangoda. Archaeologist Senerat Paranavitarane was also a regular train traveller. 

Upali Salgado
Colombo 4

Taken for a costly ride

The moment there is a diesel hike, even by a few cents, it's the short distance bus owners who say they are running at a loss. The long distance buses do not run at a loss since proper tickets are issued and all the money collected is accounted for. On the short distance bus routes, however, no tickets are issued, and drivers and conductors play out the money as they cannot run at a profit. 

Who is to blame? It is the administration and the bus owners for not checking on this. This aspect should be considered when bus fares are raised indiscriminately. It is the people who are suffering. 

C.Rodrigo
Moratuwa

These remarkable times

I then attended to some work and left within 40 minutes of my arrival. 

When I got home I found that the badges at the rear of my car, which had been in place a little earlier in the day, had been removed. 

How thieves can operate with such impunity in such a secure environment is, I suppose, no mystery in these remarkable times. 

This is written in the interests of those who may drive to Sethsiripaya and use its car park. 

Dr A.C.Visvalingam 
Rajagiriya

Waiting for the bus that never comes

I, an octogenarian, my daughter and granddaughter, stood for three hours in the Kurunegala queue, shifting from one foot to another, waiting for a bus after a tiring day. 

There was no official close by to give us hope and comfort. 

Our queue lengthened. Families including young children were standing for hours in the queues of the private bus stands at Gunasinghapura. 

Everywhere I saw humanity at large, young men and women, children with tired sad faces creeping into the stand hoping against hope that a bus would arrive. 

Is this due to the inefficiency of the Board, or the lack of interest in the plight of the poor commuters by the Minister of Transport? I humbly appeal to the Minister to visit the Pettah bus stand in disguise after 7 p.m. 

Gerry Vaidyasekera 
Potuhera 

The forgotten voice of yesteryear

Don John Joseph or to give him his adopted name - Sunil Shantha who studied music at Santhinikethan and then joined the Bhath-kande Music University, became a Vadya Visarada (First Division, First Class) B.Mus. (Instrumental) and a Sangeetha Visaradha (First Division, First Class): B.Mus.(Vocal). 

Sunil Shantha composed and sang many lilting songs that people loved to hear. But some higher-ups at Radio Ceylon (now The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) were against him mainly because he was a Roman Catholic. 

Sunil Shantha composed nearly 300 original songs and wrote some of the lyrics himself. 

Should not Sunil Shantha be posthumously honoured? He deserves it. 

Eugene M.De Silva 
Nugegoda

Menace of deadly crossings

Isn't it time to install the colour light signalling system or have automatic crossings or gates erected for the purpose? The minister should also see that the people assigned for this job carry out their duties faithfully and honestly. 

J. M. Opatha 
Ekala

Cattle rot and criminal act

They should recommend the animal for slaughter if it is in good health and free from any disease. But this procedure is not taking place today.

A large number of cattle is being transported to Colombo daily from distant places such as Embilipitiya, Hambantota, Polonnaruwa, Kekirawa, Wellawaya etc. Most of these animals die during transport. The carcasses of these animals are not thrown away. They are passed on for human consumption. This is a criminal act. 

Well organised gangs also rob the cattle belonging to the poor villagers and transport them overnight to Colombo.

The police is trying to stop this illicit operation but due to the weaknesses in the Animal Ordinances and Laws, their prosecutions fail in the courts of law. These are the laws which the colonial masters introduced to our country in the 18th century.

Appeals made by many associations concerned about cruelty to animals to the Government have not helped. 

Most Parliamentarians are lethargic about the subject of animal-rights as the animals have no vote.

In addition to the local beef sales, a large quantity of beef is exported to Western countries, especially to West Asia.

H.G.P.Jayasekara
Gal- Gava Mithuro
Colombo 10

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