Lanka lost light rail due to unwise action by Gota’s Govt. : Champika

• Cities with dense populations should have modern urban mass transportation systems
• Says he also launched the project in 2017, but unfortunately the project got cancelled

By Kelum Bandara

Former Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said Sri Lanka missed the chance of commissioning a light rail service in Colombo next year because of the unwise decision to scrap the project by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government.

In the wake of Bangladesh opening its first metro rail recently, Mr. Ranawaka said he also launched the project in 2017 linking the suburbs of Colombo, but unfortunately the project got cancelled.

He said the cities with dense populations should have modern urban mass transportation systems, and the leadership of Bangladesh was wise enough to execute such a project in Dhaka.

According to the Bangladeshi media, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said another feather was added to the crown of Bangalee’s pride and Bangladesh’s development with the opening of the country’s first-ever metro rail, vowing to build a prosperous “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041 confronting all odds.

 “One more feather after the Padma Bridge was added to the journey of Bangladesh’s development with inauguration of the metro rail,” she said.