On the fast track to suicide

Sunday’s railway tragedy at Rambukkana, where 15 persons were killed and over 200 persons injured has come as no surprise. Many had predicted such a disaster. It was only a matter of time. The train at the time of the accident, according to eyewitnesses, was travelling at a speed of around 90 km per hour - something unthinkable by Sri Lankan standards.

What really caused the derailment is yet to be found out. Brakes failure is said to be the likely cause.

The state of brakes systems in Sri Lankan trains is such that Dr. Frank Wingler, an expert on railways and a contributor to this paper who visits Sri Lanka frequently and writes about our train service, has coined the phrase, ‘dangling brakes.’ Our readers will recall that he has pointed out the danger these brakes systems pose to the commuters. His articles are full of graphic description of how trains bump along with ‘dangling brakes’ on ‘twisted tracks’ on ‘dancing sleepers’ on ‘muddy embankments.’

Despite this kind of exposure of the perilous state of the railways, there has been no improvement effected to either tracks or rolling stock. The remedy that the Railway authorities have thought of is to impose speed limits, which have led to inordinate delays.

Numerous accidents - another one was reported from Avissawella yesterday - frequent breakdowns, chronic delays and the like have been of no concern to the Railway authorities. In countries like India where politicians and bureaucrats are held answerable to the public, serious railway mishaps are followed by resignations of those responsible. Even transport ministers have resigned over railway disasters in those countries though they were not directly responsible for them. But here we have all those responsible for such accidents staying put come what may. Worse still, lame excuses are trotted out in extenuation of their lapses which often amount to criminal negligence.

That the Railway Department is chronically ill is obvious. It is terribly overstaffed and synonymous with lethargy and inefficiency. As for ensuring commuter safety, it has a long way to go. Only a fraction of its potential has been realised to solve the country’s burgeoning transport problem. To politicians it serves only one purpose. That is to find employment for their party supporters.

A top-level investigation is called for into Sunday’s tragic incident and those responsible must be brought to book. The responsibility of the Minister of Transport will be to ensure that this investigation will be free from interference from all quarters.

Manthara Hamuduruwo and power generation

Amidst controversy created by the Manthree Hamuduruwo of the South, whose election to Parliament has not merely offended staunch Buddhists but even led to an ethical dilemma as well, comes news of a Manthara Hamuduruwo of Kataragama having undertaken a mission to make it rain in catchment areas. The Ceylon Electricity Board, which is in deep crisis due to staggering losses and the monsoons playing truant, is reported to have solicited the services of this monk to fill the reservoirs brimful.

Chanting of pirith and traditional ceremonies to evoke blessings of Devas to open up skies over tanks are practices that are as old as the hills.

We don’t intend to question the effectiveness of these practices that have gained currency among the people. Instead the question is why the CEB bigwigs have resorted to the use of Manthras? Is it an indication of lack of confidence of CEB worthies in themselves to find a way out of the present crisis through other means?

Superstition, it is said, is the religion of feeble minds.

Those who are wasting their time and resources on harebrained pursuits of this nature may be well adviced to come to terms with reality and address the real cause of the present power crisis. The main cause of the shortage of power is the country’s heavy dependence on hydropower much to the neglect of other sources. We have been at the mercy of weather gods for decades for power generation. Time has come for us to opt for other sources of energy. According to experts coal comes in handy for countries like Sri Lanka. But successive governments have been dragging their feet on coal power generation due to political compulsions. The Norochcholai coal power plant has been shelved for years because of resistance from the Catholic Church on the grounds that it may adversely affect the Thalawila church. Had this project been implemented, it is said, the present crisis could have been averted.

Translocation of this project is said to be on the cards. But in this country that is home to four religions, there won’t be a site without a place of worship in proximity. And there will be opposition to the project again.

Given the wont of CEB officials for mysticism, cynics may suggest that the Manthara Hamuduruwo concerned be made CEB chairman. For with him at the helm, there will be rains on time and an uninterrupted power supply could be guaranteed throughout the year.

If manthras could ever bring about positive results as some CEB bigwigs appear to believe, then the best use they can be put to is bring these officials back to their senses and enable political leaders to muster courage to go ahead with the proposed power projects. Without this, no amount of manthras is going to solve Sri Lanka’s power crisis.

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