'Railway services will not be privatised'

The Government's efforts to develop and streamline the railway services with the participation of the private sector to provide a better service to railway commuters does not lead to the privatising of the railway services, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

"In our efforts to streamline the development of the railway services, we need to get the services of the private sector if the department fails to meet the target.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has categorically emphasised that the Government will not sell State property to fill the coffers of the Treasury.

As long as I am the Transport Minister, I will continue to pursue this policy," the Minister said.