Absent Station Masters will be deemed to have vacated their jobs

• The government had declared public transport services including train services as an essential service in a gazette notification yesterday

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   
The Railways Department stated that all Station Masters who do not report for duty today (10) will be considered as having vacated their positions.   In a letter, Railways General Manager S.S. Mudalige noted that the government had declared public transport services including train services as an essential service in a gazette notification (2390/28) issued yesterday.    

This announcement comes ahead of the scheduled strike by Station Masters and Train Controllers today.   
Earlier, the Railways Department had decided to cancel the scheduled mail trains due to a strike by Station Masters and Train Controllers starting from midnight yesterday.   
They also mentioned that arrangements are being made to have enough staff to run several office trains today.   
In view of the strike, the Transport Ministry said that the passengers can travel by the Ceylon Transport Board buses using their season tickets issued by the Railway Department.