The union officials also explain that railway lines in Sri Lanka are not maintained to such a high standard as they are in India and that using a high horsepower locomotive to pull only a few carriages seemed wasteful. Major rail lines would need to be rebuilt in order to use the M11 locomotives to their full potential. The locomotives are deemed unsuitable by their operators for their tasks they are assigned, putting public safety at risk. Union officials have expressed concern that government officials received large commissions when the locomotives were delivered. Railway officials have said all allegations are baseless.
