Sri Lanka signs agreement with India to purchase train engines, power sets

The Department of Railway has entered into an agreement with India to purchase 10 train engines and six power sets made in India.

Sri Lanka Railway General Manager B.A.P. Ariyaratne and Puneet Kumar, Executive Director of the manufacturing company, signed the MoU on 3 March in the presence of the Economic Counsellor of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka Suja K. Menon.

Sri Lanka has been granted $ 42 million for the 10 engines, and $ 58 million for the six power sets under the Indian Credit Line, the Government Information Department said.

The Railway General Manager said his Department decided to immediately purchase the engines and power sets as 55% of the engines are older than 30 years, while 250 compartments are older than 25 years.

The engines and power sets are expected to arrive in the country within 1½ years.

Menon said that India would provide support to repair the rail tracks and engines, expand the running sheds and yards, renovate the signal system, and building new bridges for old bridges.