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Rs. 1.3 m fuel loss in Colombo-Galle train 

27 Jul 2021

  • Three months but still no probe: Station Masters
  •  Allege loss of over 13,600 litres during 17 March-29 April 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera A large-scale reduction in the stocks of fuel being transported by a particular train travelling from Colombo to Galle, specifically during the months of March and April, had been observed by Station Masters.  The Sri Lanka Station Masters Union (SLSMU) has alleged that although the Railways Department has been informed of this three months ago, no investigation has been carried out into the matter so far.  Speaking to The Morning, the SLSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara claimed that nearly 7,780 litres of fuel in March and 5,856 litres in April, a total of 13,636 litres for the period, have been misplaced from this particular fuel transporting train. The approximate value of that stock of fuel is around Rs. 1,363,600, he further claimed.  The said train is loaded with fuel from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and then leaves Colombo for Galle.  According to Chamara, the stocks of fuel that decreased between the period of 17 March and 29 April are as follows: (17 March – 540 litres, 19 March – 180 litres, 21 March – 1,120 litres, 23 March – 780 litres, 24 March – 940 litres, 25 March – 680 litres, 26 March – 700 litres, 27 March – 1,460 litres, 28 March – 1,000 litres, 29 March – 380 litres, 4 April – 60 litres, 5 April – 180 litres, 6 April – 100 litres, 7 April – 60 litres, 8 April – 700 litres, 11 April – 40 litres, 12 April – 80 litres, 13 April – 20 litres, 15 April – 40 litres, 18 April – 772 litres, 19 April – 380 litres, 20 April – 320 litres, 21 April – 740 litres, 22 April – 320 litres, 23 April – 120 litres, 24 April – 260 litres, 25 April – 572 litres, 26 April – 232 litres, 27 April – 540 litres, 28 April – 180 litres and 29 April – 140 litres).  He also said that the Railways Department would suffer a huge financial loss due to the continuous shortage of fuel in this manner.  “It has been nearly three months since this incident was reported. However, no investigation has been carried out so far. It would be a great loss to the Railways Department if there is a reduction in the amount of fuel transported in this manner,” he noted. Attempts to contact the Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge and the Railways Department General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara to inquire about the matter proved futile.


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