Ministry invites new inventors:

Rs.1 m cash award for best rail gate

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Higher Education Ministry will award a cash prize of one million rupees to the inventor who produces the most cost effective and reliable rail gate.

Having taken into consideration the increasing number of accidents at unprotected level crossings, the Ministry on a directive by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake will invite professionals, research institutes and students to present new inventions to help reduce the number of accidents at unprotected level crossings, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

According to the criteria adopted by the Ministry, the new rail gate should be cost effective, reliable, easy to maintain, operate round the clock and suit any weather condition.

The Ministry has called upon lecturers, professors and students in state and private universities to find a pragmatic solution to prevent accidents at unprotected rail crossings, he said.

Dr. Nawaratne said those with expertise to produce such cost effective and reliable rail gates can contact him via [email protected] or a letter addressed to him - No.18, Ward Place, Colombo 7. The Ministry also welcomes any proposal by professionals, researchers or inventors which would help solve any other national issues in the country.

According to a spokesman for the Sri Lankan Railway Department there are nearly 612 unprotected level crossings throughout the island. The highest number of 225 unprotected level crossings is along the coastal rail track from Colombo Fort to Galle.

There are 121 unprotected crossings on the Ragama-Puttalam line, Polgahawela-Vavuniya line 92, Maho-Batticoloa line 81, Peradeniya-Matale line 9, Colombo-Badulla main line 59, Kelani Valley line 29 and Gal-Oya to Trincomalee 16.

The number of accidents at unprotected level crossings has shown an increase from 2008 to date. Six people died on Tuesday when a train plying from Maradana to Hikkaduwa collided with a van at an unprotected railway crossing in close proximity to the Aluthgama railway station.

Two people died on Friday in a lorry-train collision at an unprotected rail crossing at Ambanawatta in Mirigama.