Train strike claims two lives, injures one Trade union to continue strike action

Still risking their lives...

Despite several unfortunate incidents, Train commuters were seen dangerously travelling in packed trains yesterday. 
Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi  

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The abrupt trade union action by the railway trade unions on Tuesday night resulted in several unfortunate incidents where two commuters lost their lives and one sustained injuries after falling off the train.   

Accordingly, an 18-year-old Katubedda Technical College  student died after falling from the Colombo-bound Kandy train this morning at the Moragoda area in Gampaha. He fell while on the roof of the train.   

According to railway sources, another person was injured after he fell from a train at the Bulugahagoda substation last evening (5.45 p.m.). It was reported that the person was admitted to hospital with minor injuries.   

Meanwhile, another person died after falling from the train between Wellawatte and Bambalapitiya train stations on Tuesday (12), he was admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital.     

Govt., railway union blame game over student’s tragic death

• An 18-year-old Katubedda Technical College student  falls off roof of the train due to the congestion brought on by the abrupt strike yesterday

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Both the government and the railway trade union engaged in a blame game yesterday, each pointing fingers at the other regarding the tragic and sudden death of the Katubedda Technical College student.  

They blamed each other to take the responsibility of the sudden death. 

 Cabinet spokesperson and Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana expressed that the responsibility for the tragic death of the engineering student should be placed on the arbitrary railway trade union, which includes the 84 engine drivers who initiated the sudden train strike and refrained from reporting for duty.  

Prior to starting the weekly briefing on Cabinet decisions, a moment of silence was observed to acknowledge the passing of the engineering student from Katubedda Technical College who tragically fell off the train at Horape.  

Later, he said that the total income of the railway service by 2021 was Rs. 2.6 billion. Rs. 2.3 billion was paid as overtime allowances and Rs. 7 billion had to be paid as monthly salaries. Accordingly, the railway service incurs a continuous loss of Rs. 10 billion every year, the minister said while starting the media briefing.  

“The railway trade unions are in the practice of launching their sudden trade union action while inconveniencing innocent people. Therefore, people request that the Transport Ministry privatize the Railway Department, as no one will take responsibility for any accidents,” he said.  

In response, Sumedha Somaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU), said that the Railways’ Department should shoulder the responsibility for the untimely death.  

“The Railways’ Department has the ability to update the railway services, and the executive officers are capable of assigning more trains. They used to assign more trains and provide transport facilities when station masters were on strike,” he said.  

If more trains are assigned, people do not need to travel on the roof of the compartments. Trade unions have the authority to launch trade union actions, but the Railways Department has the opportunity to assign more trains for the people.  

“As the SLRSMU, we will not support the ongoing trade union action of the Sri Lanka Railways Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union. We also have issues, but this is not the time to fulfill our demands,” he added.