Railway income going up

K.A. Perera, Wadduwa Special Correspondent

The increase in bus fares has in turn helped railway to earn more income since commuters prefer to travel by train as it is cheaper, safer and faster.

Most of the trains operate according to the timetable particularly during the peak hours, the railway authorities claimed.

The revenue could be further increased, if the railway security personnel are deployed to check to ticketless travellers, more frequently.

Several stationmasters in the coast line told "Sunday Observer" that it was rather difficult to check all the passengers during the peak hours.

It would be far easier to check the tickets of passengers while the trains are in transit. Passenger baggages stacked on the racks could also be checked by the railway security personnel so that safety could be ensured, despite inconvenience caused to the passengers, particularly during the rush hours.

However, the Railway Authorities should take steps to keep the compartments clear and tidy. In most of the trains the shutters are not properly functioning. It causes immense inconvenience to the commuters on rainy days.

Commuters paid a glowing tribute to the present Minister of Transport for his untiring efforts to improve the train service which has been neglected for decades. Under the Railway Development Programme, Kalutara South Railway - Station would be refurbished to provide better comforts to the commuters.

Meanwhile, the railway authorities have taken steps to lay a new rail track from Kalutara North to Kalutara South. The construction of the new bridge has since been completed.

With the completion of the new project there would be no train delays as the trains operate on the dual track.

The Wadduwa commuters thanked the railway authorities for their decision to stop the morning express train from Colombo to Matara at Wadduwa railway station.

Similarly it could also stop at Wadduwa on its return journey to Colombo. More tourists travel in this train from Wadduwa to down South.

Tough action against liquor, drug menace

Panadura Group Corr., Kapila Somaratne

The liquor and drug addicts in Panadura, Wadduwa and Kehelwatta Police areas are facing acute shortage of illicit liquor and heroin drugs, because almost all illicit liquor bars and drug spots have been closed down by the owners following strict jail sentences and fines imposed for possessing illicit liquor and drugs.

During last month the Panadura Magistrate R. D. R. Thusara Rajasinghe imposed fines amounting to 2 lakhs of rupees on the accused pleaded guilty in illicit liquor cases.

The magistrate also sentenced about 30 accused men and women to jail as they had dozens of previous convictions. Each of the accused was sentence to 3 months imprisonment.

Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa Maha Nayake thera's 10th anniversary as Atamasthanadhipathi

by Anuradhapura East Group Correspondent

A series of special religious programmes and a felicitation ceremony will be held on February 28 at the Jayasri Maha Bodhi precincts, Anuradhapura to Commemorate the 10th anniversary of Ven. Dr. Pallegama Sirisumana Dhammarakkhitha Sirinivasa Nayaka thera's accession to the position of Atamasthanadhipathi.

A booklet titled, "Pallegama Sirinivasa Chrithapadhanaya" will also be launched at the occasion. The construction of the second Ran Weta, the widening of the second terrace of Sri Maha Bo Maluwa are some of the outstanding projects inaugurated under the guidance of the Venerable Maha Nayake.

Toddy Industry needs assistance

by K. A. Perera, Wadduwa Special Correspondent

The toddy tapping season in Kalutara district begins in March and the coupling of coconut trees has already commenced in the Panadura, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwala and Payagala coastal belt providing employment for more than twenty thousand people.

Several toddy contractors who expressed their grievances said unless the government intervenes this traditional local industry would come to a halt soon.

The number of coconut trees in the coastal areas are rapidly dwindling and even the small-holders are not willing to lease the trees for tapping because they could earn a higher income by selling coconut as the prices have shot up.

Meanwhile, the fragmentation of coconut lands between Panadura and Beruwala has adversely affected the toddy industry.

The shortage of toddy tappers is another constraint. Today the youths are reluctant to engage in this lucrative employment as it is risky.

At present there is only one centre at Marawila to train youths as tappers, but the numbers undergoing training is far from satisfactory.

A toddy tapper could easily earn a monthly income of more than Rs. 10,000 per month despite the risk involved in the job. Costs of production and including raw materials have also increased according to the contractors.

When the "Sunday Observer" contacted Nimal Abeykoon, a 47 year-old toddy tapper from Wadduwa, said that he has been a tapper for more than ten years and his monthly income is more than ten thousand rupees a month.

During the off season he used to tap coconut trees to make jaggery.

Toddy contractors appeal to the government for assistance so that the industry could be run on a more profitable basis.

Parents cautioned on child abuse

by Galle North Corr.

Parents, teachers and public servants have to be made aware of their special responsibility of providing protection to the children from sexual abuse, said additional Solicitor General, Palitha Fernando.

He said so addressing a workshop held at the Galle Fort Police Training Institution to raise awareness among the police officers in the Galle SP division, on the abuse of children.

The additional solicitor general impressed that the children are being abused by this close relations, neighbours etc. There is greater possibility for children whose parents are in foreign employment to become victims to abuses, he stressed.

Instances where domestic aids are being tortured, harassed and abused are on the increase.

As a precaution to protect the victims from social stigma, their identities are not revealed.

Galle district secretary, W. Weerakoon cited several instances where children had been sexually abused by school principals in the Galle district. Galle SSP Keerthiratna also spoke.