The Cabinet has approved a proposal to procure 5 new railway engines to strengthen the operations of Sri Lanka Railways, particularly in congested areas and on long-distance routes.
The decision comes amid ongoing challenges caused by aging infrastructure, with many engines in daily use now over 20 years old. Frequent breakdowns have led to disruptions and inconvenience for thousands of daily commuters.
With the department needing at least 96 engines to run current services smoothly, the shortage has become critical. The Transport Minister’s proposal aims to address this issue and improve reliability and efficiency in the railway network.