The first consignment of 10 container carrier wagons and five fuel tank wagons imported from India reached the Port of Colombo yesterday.
A Transport Ministry Official said the number of container carrier wagons and fuel tank wagons in the country will be increased to 35 and 165 respectively with these new imports to the country. He said that the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry recently entered into a contract to purchase 30 fuel tank wagons and 20 container carrier wagons from India’s Texmaco Rail & Engineering.
The cost of the a container carrier wagon is Rs. 15 million and it is designed to carry 40 foot long containers. Meanwhile, the cost of a fuel tank wagon is Rs. 15.2 million which can carry 45,000 literes of fuel.
Meanwhile, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said that Sri Lanka Railways is not a profitable business. It is a public service. However, we need to run the service without placing burdens to the country.