Viceroy, Rajadhani Express & Expo

 Dec 03, 2016

With the intention of developing railway tourism, institutions outside the Railway Department have got involved to operate trains with top facilities. Their main objective is to develop railway tourism. Special among these trains are ‘Viceroy’, ‘Rajadhani Express’ and ‘Expo’. These trains operate with the full mediation of the Department and the companies should pay for the services.

On that basis, media reported recently that the company that owns ‘Viceroy’ has avoided the payments due to the Department. Lanka News Web looked into the matter, and given below are the facts revealed therein.

‘Viceroy’ is owned by JF Tours. What is special in this company is that it has a connection to the present chairman of People’s Bank Hemasiri Fernando. Around 30 years ago, in 1984, Fernando mediated to work on this train. At present, his son has been given the task of running the company. In 1984, it cost Rs. two million to repair a steam engine that had been at the Dematagoda railway yard and add three compartments to make the train. Fernando paid all the expenses. Facts contrary to charges that payments due to the Department have not been paid have been revealed.

According to Department sources, JF Tours has not misled the Department or defaulted payments due to it. Except for two or three bills with certain issues, all other payments have been settled. The delay in the payment of these bills is due to a mistake by Department officials – that the bills have been prepared without considering the changes in the Colombo Consumers Price Index. By now, the company has got together with the Department and settled the matter. The company has promised to pay the money due.

Another thing came to light with regard to ‘Viceroy’, ‘Rajadhani Express’ and ‘Expo’. Department sources say there are no issues with regard to the first, but payments due to the two other trains have not been made. The company that runs ‘Rajadhani Express’ should pay Rs. 91,485,310 and the company that owns ‘Expo’ should pay Rs. 112,680,074 to the Department. All are dues since 2011. A related complaint has been lodged with the FCID.

Meanwhile, the media reported that Fernando had acquired Rs. 300 million from the People’s Bank and People’s Leasing through improper means to build a railway museum. According to reports, director boards of the two institutions have sanctioned the construction of the museum. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 500 m, and the bank has provided Rs. 300 m from its corporate social responsibility programmes. The balance is to be obtained from outside companies involved in CSR programmes.

The proposed museum is to be made the best of its kind in Asia. The task will be carried out under the supervision of a committee comprising 30 members from the Department. The present railway museum near the railway headquarters at Maradana will be absorbed into the new museum.

(Ashika Brahmana)