Station Master’s strike continues indefinitely

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

The Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has decided to continue their train strike indefinitely following the governments decision to consider all station masters as having vacated their positions.   Addressing the media, SLRSMU chairman Sumedha Somarathna announced that the Railways Department had declared all station masters as having vacated their positions.  

Railways Acting General Manager S.S.Mudalige requested all station masters to report for duty by noon yesterday but none did.   

As a result, 922 station masters were considered to have vacated their positions. Somarathna criticized the Acting General Manager’s administrative skills, calling for his immediate resignation and the appointment of a suitable replacement. He urged the President, Prime Minister, and relevant authorities to intervene and provide immediate solutions.  

The union will continue their strike with the support of other railway trade unions until the issue is resolved.  Somarathna expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to commuters, placing the responsibility on the government.   Last morning, four trains operated from Polgahawela to Colombo Fort, one from Negombo, one from Avissawella, and three from Galle and Aluthgama. However, no trains operated beyond Maho, and only 411 of the scheduled daily services ran.  

A senior official from the department noted that operating trains without station masters and controllers is illegal. He added that it could take up to ten years to normalize operations after appointing new station masters.