INTRODUCTION
At present there is significant delay in trains starting at the scheduled time from Fort Railway Station caused by the late arrival of the empty trains from Maligawatte Yard. The construction of three additional tracks over the School Lane Railway Bridge will enable the free movement of trains to and from the Yard thus speeding up the train services on the existing main lines from Colombo Fort.
DRAINAGE WORKS
At present, in rainy conditions, water stagnates up to a height of three feet (1 metre) under the railway bridge for several days causing a major health and safety hazard for pedestrians and motorists.
The full report of the project is attached.
https://ssles.org.uk/attachments/109_School%20Lane%20Railway%20and%20Drainage%20Report.pdf
SSLES’ PROPOSALS
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT
The existing “open” drain, which is covered with loose slabs, should be replaced with concrete or other suitable pipes under School Lane and a concrete tank & sump under the Keera Kotuwa Road. The flow in the drainage pipes will be controlled by a Hydrobrake Optimum, and non-return plastic gulleys. Implementation of this proposal will greatly reduce the stagnation of water at this location provided further investigations confirm the design assumptions.
COST
Estimated cost for the drainage works is £ 45,000 (Rs 9.0million).
This is a relatively low outlay for the expected benefits of removal of the health hazard and the improvement to the flow of traffic, and clean dry walkway for the pedestrians..
SSLES CONTRIBUTION
SSLES (UK) will assist in the designing the drainage works in collaboration with the appropriate authorities. This expertise is available because the engineer who originally did this work is now a member of the SSLES.
PROGRESS TO DATE
A report was prepared by SSLES ( see attached ), and this has been presented to the following in Sri Lanka (among others) :
The Ministery of Transport in Sri Lanka
The General Manager of Railways Sri Lanka
The Chief Engineer Ways and Works
Former Superintending Engineer Drainage Colombo Municipal Council
Present Chief Drainage Engineer Colombo Municipal Council
Our Secretary went to Sri Lanka in Jan 2014, visited the site and arranged liaison with the Minister of Transport and obtain the support for the project of the Ministry and the General Manager and Chief Engineer of Department of Railways. These meetings were successful in creating awareness among the government officials for the SSLES proposals regarding the drainage problems at School Lane.
NEXT STEPS
Committee Member of SSLES when visiting Sri Lanka will progress the matter as appropriate by consulting with the Ministry of Transport and the Municipality of Colombo. We will offer the Society’s advice and technical support and create further awareness of the benefits of the SSLES proposal .
The key factors to be presently resolved are: (a ) to investigate the blockage in the open drain at School Lane (b) to evaluate the capacity of the drains under Jayantha Weerasekera Mawatha and/or other drains that take the flow from this open drain.
For this investigation the technical drawings of the existing drains and labour resources of the Colombo Municipal Council and the Railway Authorities are sought by the Society.