JVP trade union workers to volunteer in rail track extension in the South
Lanka Truth: 22nd December, 2005
Mr Sumathipala Manawadu of the Organisation for the Protection of the Properties and the Rights of Railway Employees told yesterday that the JVP unionists will work voluntarily in the proposed extension of the Sourthern railway line project.
He said the Union has decided to send 1000 comrades of the organization will donate their labour and strength towards this genuine development project.
Mr Manawadu said the estimated cost of this project per kilometer is around four million rupees. Hence the Government will save a large amount of money as labour cost with this move.
He also mentioned that their comrades worked voluntarily to save the public funds restructuring the Souhthern railway line devastated by the Tsunami disaster. He added that rebuilding of 95 kilometres of Tsunami hit southern coastal railway line was completed in 57 days with a cost of only Rs 450 million paying only for machines and equipment whereas the engineering consultants and agencies had estimated it would cost nearly 1000 million rupees.
He added that in this attempt too they are ready to be a part of President Mahinda Rajapakse's vision of rebuilding the nation and the country. He stated that they have requested a meeting with the President concerning this.