Beliatta to Matara railway test-run gets off midst cheers and boos

Text and pix by P.D. De Silva 

The test-run from Beliatta to Matara stretch of the southern railway extension with the participation of Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga took place amidst cheers and boos of the public.

A group of supporters holding up photographs of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa delayed the start of the train at Beliatta station by blocking the line while another group stopped the train midway, protesting about compensation. A third group of MR supporters protested at the Bambarenda station.

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, known as ‘Captain Cool’, did keep his cool amidst the chaos and the test-run went ahead as planned.

Speaking to the media after disembarking at the Matara railway station, Minister Ranatunga said that the people should realise that there was no politics when it comes to development projects as the beneficiaries were the people and was being paid for with their tax money. He also said that he was looking forward to vesting the railway extension with the public before the Sinhala and Hindu New Year.

The 26.75 km long Matara-Beliatta railway extension was financed by the China Exim Bank and the contract was awarded to China Machinery Import and Export Corporation. A major portion of the construction was carried out by China Railway Group 5 (CR5). The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) are the consultants.