Department of Railway on 3rd March signed an MoU to purchase 10 train engines and six power sets made in India.

B.A.P. Ariyaratne, General Manager of Sri Lanka Railway and Puneet Kumar, Executive Director of the manufacturing Company signed the MoU in the presence of the Economic Counsellor of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka Mrs. Suja K. Menon.

Sri Lanka has been granted USD 42 million for the 10 engines, and USD 58 million for the six power sets under the Indian Credit Line.

General Manager Ariyaratna said that the Railway Department decided to immediately purchase these engines and power sets as 55 percent of the engines are older than 30 years, while 250 compartments are older than 25 years.

According to him, those engines and power sets will arrive in the country within 1 ½ years.

Mrs. Menon said that India will support to repair the rail tracks and engines, expand the running sheds and yards, renovate the signal system, and building new bridges for old bridges.