The Locomotive Operating Engineers Union (LOEU) demanded that salary anomalies be corrected and the entry qualification for an engine driver be upgraded to a diploma.

Holding a salary copy of the Chairman of LOEU, L.K. Dissanayake -- citing a thumping Rs. 45,290.28 per month -- the Minister Perera commented that even his salary does not amount to this figure.

He argued that these engine drivers themselves were G.C.E. O/L qualified when they were recruited to the Department and now they are demanding the qualification be raised to a diploma. "Why? Because they want to maintain their monopoly".

"The Railways Department is for the benefit of the public. It is not for the benefit of the engine drivers", Perera told an interview with the "Asian Tribune."

Minister observed that their name "Locomotive Operating Engineering Union" in itself is misleading since they do not fall into the category of the engineers. By a making a diploma which can only be obtained at Moratuwa University, mandatory, I think they are trying project the picture that they too are engineers.

"Even I can drive a train. I did it once in China", he said.

Minister Perera was stripped of his Transport portfolio nearly a month ago by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Apparently unhappy over the matter, he is also on a collision course with Deputy Minister of Transport, Lasanatha Alagiawanna.

The Deputy Minister announced plans recently, on reviving the once defunct Central Transport Board. But Perera said it was he who did the groundwork and insisted on establishing the CTB, though his deputy is now gloating about it. "Lasantha did not give any support while I was the Transport Minister", he said.

Excepts of the interview with Railways Minister Felix Perera is given below:

Question: Both the government and the LOEU are firm about not giving into each other. Where will all this end?

Felix Perera: Our stand is clear. No matter how much they clamor, these are not demands that we can meet. On the one hand the union is asking that the salary anomalies be rectified. But the chairman of the LOEU is earning more than 45,000 a month. I have got a copy of his salary sheet. I am telling you; even I don't get that much of a salary. They are among the highly paid government sector workers. This is just one union out of 104 unions in the Department. The fleet of trains that we have is only 58. There is a workforce of 17,000 with some 300 engine drivers. So what if others also insist the same. The Railways Department is for the benefit of the people. It is not for the benefit of the engine drivers alone.

Question: The union is also insisting on upgrading the entry qualification to a diploma. What is your opinion on it?

Felix Perera: These very engine drivers who are calling for a diploma to be made mandatory to become an engine driver, are the ones who became engine drivers only with their General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (O/L )examination. They want to maintain their monopoly by insisting on a diploma. In fact I brought down the 5 years training period for the engine drivers to three years. In India, it is only 1 years training.

The very name, "Locomotive Operating Engineering Union" itself is misleading since they do not fall into the category of the engineers. By a making a diploma that can only be obtained from Moratuwa University mandatory, I think they are trying project the picture that they too are engineers. Even I can drive a train. I did it once in China.

Question : The Railways Department is losing a massive Rs. 2800 million, a year. What are your plans to minimize the loss?

Felix Perera: We cannot aim at making profits at the expense of the public. But certainly we can cut down on the loss. At present, we are only transporting 1% of goods such as oil, cement and containers etc. I am hoping to increase it up to 10%. On the other hand, it will reduce the traffic jam on road and add to the income. That apart, we are planning to make hotel reservations available when a booking for a train is done. For that we need to have agents and we are already in the process of employing them. The Department is losing a lot of tax revenue that it is entitled to. The best of the land belong to our Department. Some 1600 acres of Land Island wide is rented out for Rs. 300 million annually. But there are only two workers in charge of collecting money; hence we are not getting the money.

Question: What new plans are in store for improving the railways?

Felix Perera: Colombo-Katunayake express railway track will be completed with funds from China. There are also plans to increase the speed of the track with upgraded trains. The Cabinet approval was granted for another track from Colombo to Matara with a bridge over Nilwala river.

Question: There are an estimated 900 unprotected rail gates around the country and we have a history full of accidents related to such gates with the recent incident of killing a bus load of people in Yaangalmodara. What steps have you taken so far?

Felix Perera: The Department is running at a loss and we do not have funds to put up new gates. So, I got the Cabinet approval last month to sell millions worth of steel, lying idle in the Department and to raise money have new rail gates.

Question: Deputy Minster last week announced plans on reviving the Central Transport Board as a means of breaking the private sector monopoly. Y

Felix Perera:Yes, I think the CTB should be revived. In fact I was the one who did all work relating to it preparing the new Act on CTB. The state accounts for only 22% of the transport need of the people and the private sector account for the rest. This is too much of a disparity.