PARLIAMENT

Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC,— To ask the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that the Colombo- Batticaloa night mail train no longer provides a first-class sleeping berth facility;

(ii) if so, of the reasons for the unavailability of this facility;

(iii) whether this facility will be reintroduced; and

(iv) if not, of the reasons for it;

(b) Will he also inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that the price of a ticket for the first-class sleeping berth (non-air-conditioned) on the Colombo – Batticoloa night mail train was Rs. 5,000/- whereas the price of a ticket for a  first-class sleeping berth (with air-conditioned facilities) on other routes is approximately Rs. 2,800/-;

(ii) of the rationale behind this price difference; and

(iii) of the reasons for such an apparent discriminatory treatment?

(c) If not, why?