Union claims political finger in railway station vehicle park

The Railway Trade Union Alliance accused the authorities for allowing an individual receiving political patronage to run a vehicle park on land belonging to the Railways Department in Kurunegala.

Convenor of the Trade Union Alliance S.P. Vithanage said a small area of land and a building had been leased for Rs.30, 000 a month to a person to keep bicycles and motorcycles belonging to passengers taking train at the Kurunegala Railway Station, but that he was now occupying the entire land and running a vehicle park and earning a considerable income.

Union charges reports of the Railway Security Service in this regard had not been acknowledged by the authorities

The trade union pointed out that the Railways Department had allowed this person receiving political patronage to use a land belonging to the department to run private car park. Vithanage said the monthly income from the car would be more than Rs.300,000 but the lessee paid only Rs.30,000 to the department. He also pointed out that the car park created obstructions to the railway maintenance equipment yard.

The trade union said the reports of the Railway Security Service in this regard had not been acknowledged by the authorities and requested the Minister of Transport to cancel the lease and to bring the car park under the Railways Department.