SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This Thesis is a study of the role of railway transport in Ceylon. It is divided into three parts. Part One is devoted to the discussion of the Ceylon (Government) Railway's early role in the absence of competition, and to the present problems facing it as a consequence to the development of road transport on the one hand, and to an unrealistic transport policy, on the other. Part Two of the Thesis examines the proper role of the railways. A discussion of the country's financial difficulties, undertaken in chapter 5, reveals the extent to which the national interest clashes with orthodox economics; its importance cannot be overlooked in any solution to the transport problem. Chapter 6 deals with transport costs whilst the pricing and investment policies for the railways are discussed at length in chapters 7 and 8. Chapter 9 examines the transport problem and the solutions. The study of public control of transport is restricted to chapter 10. The results of the analysis in Part Two provides the basis for stating the case of the Railway in Part Three. It is apparent that the future prospects for the Railway depend on the availability of traffic and Government policy on transport in general, and the Railway in particular, Chapter 11 is devoted to an examination of the opportunities that are for it to secure additional traffic; the common arguments in support of the wider use of the Railway are dealt with. Chapter 12 examines a lore realistic transport policy. The proposals for the Railway and the road industry, while accommodating the national interest, are deemed to assure both the economic objective of a transport policy and the proper role of the Railway.