Over 40 trains cancelled, no tickets issued

Pic by Kithsiri de Mel  

• The SLRSMU launched its token strike last night against offering the position of Deputy General Manager (Commercial) to a person who has been accused of corruption

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

More than 40 train services have been cancelled yesterday due to the 24-hour token strike launched by the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU), the Railways Department said.

They said most of the ticket counters were closed, and no tickets were issued to passengers.  

The SLRSMU launched its token strike last night against offering the position of Deputy General Manager (Commercial) to a person who has been accused of corruption.  
Accordingly, night mail trains operating between Colombo Fort and Badulla, Colombo Fort and Trincomalee have also been cancelled.  

Meanwhile, the intercity express train operating between Colombo Fort and Batticaloa, Puttalam-bound office train, and eleven other office trains had been cancelled.  

The union claimed that the appointed person was involved in many activities that have caused losses to the railway service. The relevant authorities do not check people’s backgrounds and past records when appointing them to higher posts, instead giving the opportunity to youth.  

The Central Committee of the SLRSMU decided to launch a 24-hour token strike on Tuesday night (9) against the appointment.