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| Sunday, 23 November 2003 |
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First Ceylonese GMR : B. D. Rampala, Railway legend by J. B. Muller, Coordinator, Mass Communications & Information, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Late "Mr. Rampala was the first Ceylonese Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Ceylon Government Railway who adorned that post from 1949 and the first Ceylonese engineer to be elevated to the post of General Manager of Railway in 1955. He served as the Head of the Railway for no less than 15 years which is the second longest tenure of office of the GMR in the long history of our Railway." "When recounting the Railway achievements of Rampala, I can do no better than reproduce extracts from some of the references I made to him in my Vote of Thanks, when he graced the opening of the 76" Annual Sessions of our Institution in 1982, at very short notice, as the chief guest, due to the Executive Head of State being unable to attend. Rampala was 'mentor' and 'guru' from the time he became the GMR, and was an inspiration to all young Engineers who followed in his footsteps and listened to his sound advice and guidance." "True to the meaning that could be given to his Sinhalese name. Rampala was famous for his 'golden rule' in the administration and development of the Railway. The innovations he brought about were many. He was responsible for the complete dieselization of the Railway and the Introduction of long distance Fast Express trains on all the lines." Diesel Shunting Locomotives were built locally in the Ratmalana Workshops under his personal instructions and guidance. He introduced Colour Light Signalling with Centralized Traffic Control to solve the congestion at peak hours in the suburbs of Colombo. He installed a network of Radio Trans Receivers at central and terminal stations throughout the Railway System for direct contact on important operating matters and in emergencies. He was instrumental in introducing 55 ft. long coaches on our Railway." "Better seating facilities were provided on our trains for long distance travel. Observation Cars with improved seating arrangements were attached to the rear of the 'Uda Rata Menike and Podi Menike' and an air-conditioned coach was attached to the 'Yal Devi." "All these achievements of Rampala are not surprising when at a comparatively young age his originality and talents had been recognized by the Institution of Locomotive Engineers. London, which awarded him a special prize for the best Technical Paper presented before that Institution that year and he was 'dubbed' the 'cleverest engineer east of Suez. Rampala strode across the Railway System like a Colossus earning international recognition and repute." "Engineers of the calibre and stature of Rampala add lustre to the Engineering Profession and are hard to find. It is no exaggeration to say that the Railway appears to be still 'free-wheeling' on the momentum developed and left behind by Rampala nearly two decades ago and it is now time for the powers-that-be to inject fresh inputs to revitalize a fading concern." These were the word of the late Eng. L. S. de Silva in his foreward to the B. D. Rampala Felicitation Volume (incidentally Volume One in the History of Engineering Series) published by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. (IESL), on the 125th Anniversary of the Railway in 1989, and one can do no better than to quote another Railwayman who followed in his illustrious predecessor's footsteps. Incidentally, the late Eng. L. S. de Silva was not only Additional General Manager (Technical) of Railways, he was also President of the IESL and a founder member of the Institute of Transport and Logistics. Coincidentally, his son, Eng. Priyal de Silva is the General Manager of Railways, a former president of the Institute of Transport & Logistics and the current president of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka! Bamunuarachchige Don Rampala earned a B.Sc. (London) degree, was a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers. Sri Lanka, an Honourary Life Fellow and Past President of the IESL (1958-59) and General Manager of Railways from 1955 to 1970. He was one of its most distinguished members and greatly honoured for his contribution to the profession of engineering in this country. Eng. D. L. D. K. Wijewardena will deliver the inaugural lecture at the IESL's Auditorium II on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 5:15 PM. The chief guest will be Eng. A. N. P. Wickremasuriya and the event will be presided over by IESL President, Eng. Priyal de Silva. |
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