MOVES AFOOT TO ACQUIRE RAILWAY LAND IN MARADANA

Unions say an interdicted senior officer behind the racket

Railway Trade Union Alliance expressed concern about the secret plan to acquire part of the land belonging to the Railways Department in Maradana where the building department and several workshops were located.

Trade Union Alliance Convener S.P. Vithanage said the Urban Development Authority had already surveyed the land without the knowledge of the Railways Department. He pointed out that the acquisition of the land would seriously affect the smooth functioning of the department and the purpose of acquiring railway property in this secretive manner was highly questionable.

“When the employees protested against the survey of the land and attempted to prevent it, the UDA officials had complained to the police against the employees. Summoning the police to a railway workshop and taking action against the employees will lead to a massive protest campaign. Land belonging to the Department should be used for the purpose of improving and maintaining the train services and was not meant to be used for any other purpose. Experience has shown us that acquiring railway property will not benefit the people, the department or the railway employees but the vested interests behind this ulterior move,” he said.

Mr. Vithanage said that during the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, the then defence secretary using his powers acquired railway land and razed down several buildings to establish a Knowledge Park and Technology Village but this land was leased out to several private companies for other purposes. He said a senior railway official under interdiction and a group of racketeers receiving political patronage were behind the land grab.

When the employees protested against the survey of the land and attempted to prevent it, the UDA officials had complained to the police against the employees. Summoning the police to a railway workshop and taking action against the employees will lead to a massive protest campaign