Sri Lanka is set to receive 20 diesel-electric locomotives from India as a gift, marking a significant boost for the island nation’s railway system.
This unprecedented gesture follows a request made by Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, to the Indian Government, highlighting the island’s urgent need for additional locomotives and spare parts.
The locomotives, valued at Rs. 16,000 million, were previously in service with Indian Railways before being replaced by newer electric models. However, they remain highly capable, boasting a horsepower capacity of 3,300, surpassing even the current highest mark of 3,000 in Sri Lanka. This enhanced power will allow them to haul up to 22 carriages or compartments, significantly improving efficiency and passenger capacity.
From left: Indian PM Narendra Modi, Minister of Highways, Transport and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena and former Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay
Minister Dr. Gunawardena expressed his profound gratitude to the Indian Government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former High Commissioner Gopal Baglay for recognizing Sri Lanka’s need and responding with such generosity. He also appreciated the role played by new Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha for facilitating the transfer of the locomotives.
He acknowledged the critical role Indian assistance has played in revitalising Sri Lankan railways throughout history, with projects like the full re-establishment of the Northern Railway Line and the provision of carriages and engines.
Struggled
The arrival of these locomotives comes at a crucial juncture for Sri Lanka Railway (SLR), which has faced challenges due to ageing infrastructure and budgetary constraints. The Minister said that the SLR has struggled to maintain profitability and reinvest in its operations, leading to a dependence on loan assistance for vital upgrades.
In this context, India’s gift holds immense significance, providing much-needed resources without adding to Sri Lanka’s financial burden.
Furthermore, the imported locomotives represent a valuable technological leap forward. Equipped with the latest advancements, they offer an opportunity for SLR personnel to gain crucial knowledge and expertise in maintaining and operating modern equipment. This knowledge transfer will be essential for Sri Lanka to keep pace with evolving technologies and ensure the future sustainability of its sprawling railway system.
The arrival of these 20 locomotives will not only boost passenger capacity and service efficiency but also symbolizes the enduring bond of friendship and cooperation between Sri Lanka and India.
Trains, the iron serpents snaking across continents, hold a unique place in transportation history. While cars and buses carve their own paths, trains are bound to their steel tracks, loyal to a fixed route. Yet, this very limitation birthed innovation, pushing engineers to defy speed limits and redefine convenience.
From its humble beginnings, the train has evolved into a marvel of speed and comfort.
The five officials who visited India including Additional General Manager, Technical, Chief Engineer Keerthi Hewavitharana and Additional General Manager,
Operations, Vajira Polwattege.
Japan’s MLX01 Maglev, a levitating marvel, lays claim to the land speed record, clocking in at a breathtaking 581 kilometers per hour. Every inch of track, every curve and gradient, must be meticulously maintained, for even a millimeter’s deviation can spell disaster.
India, our close neighbour, is no stranger to this high-speed revolution. Trains like the Vande Bharat Express, streaking between New Delhi and Varanasi at 180 kilometres per hour, are proof of their modern, efficient railway system. India is building a brand-new bullet train track with Japanese assistance and expertise between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. This project is known as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR).
Giant
But India’s role in Sri Lanka’s railway story goes beyond mere competition. Wrights Company, an Indian giant in railway carriage manufacturing, has supplied both engines and carriages for Sri Lanka’s high-speed trains. Ircon, another Indian state-owned behemoth, not only builds railways but also breathes new life into aging infrastructure, including the post-tsunami restoration of Sri Lanka’s Southern Railway and the renovation of the Northern Railway Line all the way to Kankesanthurai (KKS).
This partnership goes back decades, with India extending a helping hand since the 90s. From providing railway carriages and rails to locomotives like the iconic M8 class diesels, India has been a pillar of support for Sri Lanka’s railway system.
However, marking a momentous shift in this historical collaboration, for the first time ever, India has gifted Sri Lanka 20 decommissioned diesel locomotives.
The basis for this move lies in India’s own internal shift towards electrification. As they phase out fuel-burning locomotives, India has opted to share these still serviceable engines with Sri Lanka, bolstering the island nation’s capacity and solidifying age-old diplomatic bonds. It must be stressed again that this is a grant and not a transfer of locomotives based on a loan basis.
The foundation for this historic grant was laid when Minister Dr. Gunawardena wrote a letter to then Indian High Commissioner Baglay, urging him to intervene with the Central Government and get the locomotives for our railway system.
In the letter penned on August 22, 2023, the Minister has emphasized the contribution made by India for our railway service and that the railway projects carried out by India in Sri Lanka since 2011 have been a great strength for the SLR.
The Minister has stated that the projects worth US$ 466 million, including the full re-establishment of the Northern Railway line and the provision of train carriages and engines, have contributed to strengthening the railways in the country. It also mentions the provision of M11 locomotives.
In that letter, the Minister urged him to consider the provision of free locomotives by the Government of India as discussed earlier.
In response to that, the First Secretary of the Indian High Commission, Irina Thakur, in a letter dated November 28, 2023, informed that the Government of India will provide facilities to send a team consisting of five SLR personnel to the Southern Railway Service Yard in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, to inspect the said locomotives.
Facilities
The letter stated that the Government of India will provide travel facilities in India including air tickets and accommodation facilities for five SLR Technical Officers including Railway Engineers to go to India to carry out pre-inspection before getting the relevant locomotives.
Accordingly, on December 18 last year, Additional General Manager of Railways (Operations) Vajira Polwatte, Additional General Manager of Railways (Technical) – Chief Railway Engineer Keerthi Hewawitharana and several others went to India and selected 23 locomotives suitable for operations in this country.
Railway General Manager Eng. H. M. K. W. Bandara told the Sunday Observer that 20 of the 23 locomotives received from India will be used for passenger transport and the remaining three locomotives will be imported for spare parts.
He also said that of these 23 locomotives, two will be delivered to Sri Lanka in the last week of this month and those engines will be used to run the train on Independence Day. This marks an important milestone for the railway services in Sri Lanka, which is eying further expansion to cater to increasing demand for train travel.
