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The Indian railway is as old as our own railway system which was
introduced by the British.
India has one of the largest rail networks in the world with over
63,000 kilometres and serving nearly 7,000 railway stations moving over
13 million passengers daily.
Recently, I had the experience to travel by train in India due to the
lightening strike by the ground staff of Indian airlines.
I travelled from Delhi to Chennai, a distance of 2,190 kilometres,
which was covered in about 35 hours, by a train with over 20 passenger
compartments and drawn by a single locomotive which had been
manufactured in India.
We in Sri Lanka complain daily about the condition of railway tracks,
lack of suitable railway locomotives and also the lack of adequate
passenger bogeys.
We always think of importing the required equipment from far away
places such as Romania, Germany, France or China. But why don't we
approach the Indian Government and request them to provide assistance to
upgrade the railway tracks, so that trains can run faster and also
provide Indian built locos and compartments.
The Indian government has always provided Sri Lanka with whatever
assistance we have asked for. Sri Lanka could also ask India to provide
assistance to lay the new railway track from Matara to Kataragama, a
distance of about 100 kilometres.
If the Indians build this track as they have done in their own
country the trip from Matara to Kataragama could be covered in less than
two hours by train.
Let us hope the Minister of Transport turns to India to help improve
our railway.
TILAK FERNANDO, Colombo 6
Electronic media recently reported that Dr. Haniffa domiciled in
Australia has been charged for supporting a terrorist group which was
responsible for the Glasgow Airport bombing and the two vehicles
discovered with explosives hidden inside.
The British Police and the Australian Police acted promptly and
efficiently by exchanging information and using computer expertise
forensically examining emails of Dr. Haniffa in dealing with this
arrest. It was done within a couple of days though the interrogation
lasted for almost two weeks. The fact of the matter is that he is
charged in Australia for having a hand in the bombing of Glasgow
airport.
What Sri Lanka needs at this juncture is such co-operation from other
countries (Australia promptly went into action on British Police
request) in dealing with the LTTE supporters domiciled overseas? It's a
two-way action and we should not hesitate to make such requests from any
country as terrorism now operates sans borders with the sophisticated
technology.
One recent incident was the discovery of 1,000kg explosives
discovered in a refrigerated truck bound to Colombo.
As reported in the media, the arrested suspects alleged to have said
that they were waiting a cell phone call from Canada from a LTTE
activist's instructions like when and to whom to handover the truck.
At this instance, the Sri Lanka Police and the Government should have
immediately sought the help of the Canadian Police to trace this LTTE
activist and to take appropriate action like what Australia did in Dr.
Haniffa's case. If it has not been done yet, I believe that it still can
be done.
The supply of raw materials to the LTTE to the assemble two small
planes by a Sri Lankan born Australian Jayakumar is another incident
where we could have sought help from Australia. (Infact, he was honoured
by Prabhakaran with 'Mahanthir' posthumously for the help rendered by
him as reported in the LTTE Tamilnet.) LTTE used these planes to attack
the Sri Lanka Air Force base and an Oil installation in Colombo killing
a few and damaging some buildings.
The Government or the Sri Lankan Police cannot say that they were not
aware of this person as enough information/materials of Australian Press
and the TV were reproduced in Sri Lankan print media and Jayakumar was
suspected of supplying the parts and equipment for these small aero
planes (other than the sophisticated communication equipment supplied by
Norwegian embassy through its diplomatic immunity) to the LTTE.
Sri Lanka Police should have immediately requested the Australian
Federal Police to arrest him (as in Dr. Haniffa's case) but I do not
think that was actioned by the Sri Lanka Police or for that matter by
the Government.
He was well known in Australia being a supporter of the LTTE (through
the print and electronic media) and he was under surveillance of the
Australian Federal Police and ASIO though he died a natural death before
being arrested. Another missed chance.
The cross border terrorists can be apprehended through exchange of
information and cooperation of the countries involved and Sri Lanka
Counter Terrorism Unit take cognizance of Dr. Haniffa's case and seek
help from other countries when needed at least in future.
Dealing with the internationally powerful LTTE, there should be no
complacency and we should explore all avenues in reciprocating
information.
Malin Abeyatunge |
