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UNP against scrapping of Railway Authority
By Santhush Fernando
The United National Party will not support the Freedom Alliance Government's attempt to scrap the nominally existing Railway Authority. Former Deputy Finance Minister Bandula Gunawardena told The Sunday Times that the UNP would not be supporting the Government's Bill to abolish the Railway Authority, as privatisation was a policy of the party.

Mr. Gunawardena further told that as it was the practice of developed countries to transform Departments into Corporations and Authorities, the Railway Authority was set up during the UNF regime, in line with this practice.

Cabinet took its first step last Wednesday in the abolition of the Railway Authority by approving the presentation of a Bill to repeal the Railway Authority Act, fulfilling one of the pledges it promised at the last General Election .

Transport Minister Felix Perera told The Sunday Times that he does not believe that the Opposition would object to the abolition. He said that as the United National Party too had delayed in setting up the Authority due to the outcry of the Railway unions, he believed, in principle, the UNP would not vote against the Bill to repeal the Authority.

Minister Perera said that he is trying to resuscitate the Railway Department by implementing a short-term action plan similar to the one that is already implemented with regard to bus transport.

Convener of the All Ceylon Railway Workers' General Employees Union Sumathipala Manawadu told The Sunday Times that although trade unions had earlier threatened to engage in a strike if the Authority was not abolished, it would not expect the Government to pass the Bill in Parliament until it is in a position to do so.

The Government placed the Railways under the Strategic Enterprises Management Agency (SEMA) with a view to ensuring effective management of strategic public sector enterprises.

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