Sri Lanka Railways says all office trains are currently operating as usual despite several railway trade unions launching a 48-hour strike from midnight yesterday (16).
The unions began the strike over several demands, including the removal of the current General Manager of Railways.
Railway Station Masters’ Association Chairman Sumedha Somarathna said several trains had been cancelled yesterday even before the strike commenced, causing inconvenience to passengers.
He alleged that the General Manager and executive officers were attempting to operate trains without a proper programme to increase railway revenue or provide the facilities required by passengers.
Somarathna claimed that the majority of station masters had joined the strike, while some station masters supportive of the government were attempting to disrupt the trade union action and retain the current General Manager.
He emphasized that the strike was not politically motivated, but aimed at restoring the railway department.
