Sri Lanka Railways has instructed all Railway Station Masters and Railway Controllers to report to their respective railway stations or the nearest railway station on or before 12 noon today. 

The General Manager of Railways, S.S. Mudalige warned that Railway Station Masters and Railway Controllers who fail to heed the order will be considered to have vacated their service. 

The ultimatum comes as Railway Station Masters and Railway Controllers are engaged in a trade union action over several grievances, including promotions. 

Several train services were cancelled and limited trains were in operation today due to the strike action, severely inconveniencing the public. 

The trade union action is being carried out despite the government having declared public transportation, including railway services, as essential services. 

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army has been deployed to assist the Police in providing security to railway stations amid the ongoing trade union action. 

Sri Lanka Army officers have been deployed at 45 railway stations, including Kandy, Matale, Peradeniya, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Hatton, Kotagala, Nanuoya, Ambewala, Puttalam, Chilaw, Alawwa, Polgahawela, and Kurunegala. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena along with senior Railway officials expressed condolences over the death of a youth forced to travel on the roof of an overcrowded train due to a railway strike today. 

Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena and the senior Railway officials expressed their condolences prior to commencing the Weekly Cabinet Press Briefing held in Colombo. 

Addressing the Cabinet Press Briefing today, the Minister said that 84 railway employees engaged in the strike must take responsibility for the youth’s death. 

The 20-year-old youth who had travelled on the roof of a train plying from Kandy to Colombo had died after falling over due to knocking onto the ceiling of the Horape Railway Station this morning. 

At least 20 train services were cancelled due to a strike launched by the Sri Lanka Locomotive Operating Engineers Union resulting in overcrowding of operating trains.

Commenting on the strike, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena further said that he will request the President within the day to declare the Railway Services as an essential service from midnight today. 

The minister added that a Gazette notification in this regard will also be issued accordingly. (NewsWire)

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