Railway nets Rs. 7 m for festive season

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Department of Railways yesterday said a massive income of Rs. 7 million has been recorded by the Department during the April festive season this year.

According to latest Railway Department statistics, about eight additional trains were deployed during this period for the benefit of passengers leaving Colombo to their destinations.

"Although we deploy about 15 additional trains during the April festive season every year, it had dropped to eight this year due to the General Election which was conducted a few days prior to the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Railway Department, Station Master (Act. Accountant), K. Wimalasiri told the Sunday Observer that although the Department had earlier planned to deploy more trains from April 10, the two- week long New Year and the Election holiday resulted in the absence of many employees, including the engine drivers and Railway guards.

Speaking on the revenue, Wimalasiri said that out of Rs. 7 million which was earned by the Department during this period, the Colombo Fort Railway Station alone had collected over Rs. 1.5 million.