Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena says the Government will send Army personnel overseas for training if railway unions prevent plans to train them locally as locomotive drivers for emergency deployment.
The Deputy Minister said the proposal involves training 20 serving Army soldiers to operate locomotives strictly for use during emergency situations to ensure uninterrupted rail services.
“If they do not allow the training to take place here, we will send them overseas and provide the necessary training,” he said, responding to union opposition.
He also criticised the timing of the trade union action, pointing out that it was unfair to disrupt services while the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examinations are currently underway.
Meanwhile, the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union announced that its members will launch a strike from midnight today (17) in protest against the decision to train military personnel in locomotive operations.
The sudden strike is expected to cause islandwide rail service disruptions, affecting students, office commuters and the general public. (Newswire)