Train strike from midnight today

3 July 2019 02:14 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 10 Bookmark

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All railways trade unions have decided to launch a strike from midnight today over the Transport Ministry’s failure to sign a letter suspending a shunting driver who was caught under the influence of liquor while on duty, one trade union said.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka Freedom Railway Workers Association (SLFRWA) Secretary Nadeera Manoj said the Railways General Manager (GMR) had written to the Transport Ministry Secretary requesting to suspend the service of the said shunting driver.

“The driver was found driving a train under the influence of liquor on May 28. The GMR cannot take a direct decision to suspend him as he is a trade union leader. Therefore, he requested the ministry to suspend the driver,” he said.

He said though the GMR had requested the Transport Ministry Secretary on three occasions to suspend the driver, the Secretary had not responded. “This is why the GMR has also decided to resign from his post yesterday,” Manoj said.

Therefore, he said all railways trade unions had decided to launch a strike from midnight today if the Ministry was unable to take a decision before 6.00 pm.

Mr. Manoj also claimed that the Ministry Secretary had not yet signed the suspension letter because the shunting driver was one of his close associates.

When contacted, Transport Ministry Secretary L. P. Jayampathy said that he was not aware of a railway trade union action.

However, he said that he had received letters from the GMR regarding the suspension of a shunting driver.

“The GMR had not adopted a proper way to take action against the said driver and that was why I did not sign the letter. If I signed the letter, the higher management can file a case over the procedure taken to suspend the service of the driver. I have no connection with this shunting driver,” Mr. Jayampathy added.(Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Comments - 10

Sunil Wednesday, 03 July 2019 02:26 PM

What a sordid regime this is. One cannot plan any trip when the CGR is an utter mess.

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Anmanpan Wednesday, 03 July 2019 02:30 PM

It is time the Sri Lanka Railway is modernized like in Singapore. The trains are run with no drivers. Test are being carried out in Japan to run the present trains which have humans at the controls to driverless. It will be a lot safer for the commuters and also for the poor elephants.

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DillonDP Wednesday, 03 July 2019 02:32 PM

No one in this country is aware of anything like our so-called president maithree, they all read from the newspapers, no wonder these days the investigations are carried out by our amateur newspaper bothers

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Lord Wolfstein Wednesday, 03 July 2019 02:42 PM

It can not be the job of the railway unions to demand disciplinary actions against railway employees.

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Sujith Wickramaratne Wednesday, 03 July 2019 02:44 PM

If no one is denying the fact he was under the influence why is the secretary delaying the signing that letter?? even by secretary statement he's not denying that he was drunk. Please sack that irresponsible driver and get on with your jobs..... Arjuna it's time to walk the talk, always preaching good governance without practicing it. good time to practice what you preach.

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BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 03 July 2019 02:46 PM

This country is becoming a joke where drunkards, crooks, hench-aiya's, corruption are running the show.

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S.Vaidy Wednesday, 03 July 2019 03:07 PM

Railway was a closed essential service with RDI ,DOI instructions to maintain a disciplined,dedicated work force with defined schemes of recruitment.The ruin started by replacing Public service regulations and increasing Administrative officers from 03 to over a dozen instead of one direct recruit CAO and changing schemes of recruitment with no rhyme or reason and closing entry to 1st class or 2nd upper Graduates to take up positions in the administrative service .Salaries cannot be equated to other non essential services and due consideration should be paid to the arduous vigilant duties round the clock .GMR should be relieved of political interference and be empowered to bring back RDI

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Ajith66 Wednesday, 03 July 2019 03:09 PM

All these due to we do not have a leader with backbone

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pradeep Wednesday, 03 July 2019 04:01 PM

Country wide strike for a such a small matter, harassing thousand of commuters , all these trade unions should be banned

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The state of the SLAS ! Wednesday, 03 July 2019 04:56 PM

"“The GMR had not adopted a proper way to take action against the said driver " - another square peg in a round hole. OK - if the procedure needs correction - then if you have the knowledge of the correct procedure, then reply to the GMR , without sitting on your backside. As far as we know it is you who have to take action once this offence is reported to you.

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