News
Railway officials under fire over failure to use GPS technology
03 Mar, 2025
Sri Lanka’s Railway Department has come under fire over its failure to use GPS technology to mitigate accidents involving trains and elephants.
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake headed a discussion of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation.
The Committee Chair expressed his concerns over the failure by the railway department to address the harm caused to elephants, despite the availability of technology.
He expressed regret over the recent incident where six elephants perished following a train collision.
The Minister expressed disappointment over the failure by railway department officials to utilize the GPS technology to mitigate such incidents and expressed his dissatisfaction over their inaction.
Minister Bimal Ratnayake issued directives to the railway department officials to take all necessary measures to prevent such occurrences.
In response, the officials stated that discussions were already underway and that immediate steps were being taken to address the issue. Additionally, an ad hoc Parliamentary Committee was established, comprising Members of Parliament, to formulate an efficient management system within the railway department. (Colombo Gazette)
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