Army to Revert to Use of Railways for Passage of Troops & Logistics

Sri Lanka Army after absence of so many decades recently began conveyance of goods and troop convoys by rail from Galle to Kankesanthurai and vice versa, consequent upon a notion, suggested by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva to the Quarter Master General (QMG) and the Army Directorate of Movement with the intention of reducing traffic blocks and expenditure.

The passage of troops and their mechanical equipment, barracks and accessories, bound for Kankesanthurai under this re-commencement project, first took place on 21 February, and its Galle-bound return journey on 24 February aboard a train with 8 passenger compartments and 2 wagons to suit routine inter-unit change of service locations.

The landmark arrangement was re-introduced in response to the requests of Major W. M. G. J Wanigasekara, Commanding Officer, 2 (volunteer) Gemunu Watch and Major D. H W. Deshapriya, Commanding Officer, 16 (volunteer) Gemunu Watch, both of who were changing their service locations. This modus operandi came to a halt with the escalation of terrorist attacks before May 2009.

However, those Army supplies and such movements continued to be dispatched by road using heavy trucks and vehicles, many of which were very much expensive while posing traffic blocks too along the routes they were taking.

The re-introduction of this movement was enabled as a result of the green light, extended by the Commander of the Army to Major General R. Ratnasingham, Quarter Master General who personally coordinated and supervised the project.