train strike continues: Railway TU Alliance

By Sandun A. Jayasekera and Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

Transport State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe yesterday said the cabinet paper submitted to make the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) a closed service, paving the way to rectify the salary anomalies of employees of Sri Lanka Railways (SLR), was approved by the cabinet yesterday.   

The SLR employees are on strike for a week demanding the implementation of the cabinet paper approved by the cabinet on May 18, 2018 to rectify their salary anomalies.   
However, Secretary of the Engine Drivers’ Union, Indika Dodangoda told Daily Mirror last afternoon that they would decide whether to call off the strike or not after they received the cabinet approval officially. 

The strikers had not received the cabinet approval until 3.00 pm last afternoon.   

The Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) had decided to continue their strike action until they receive the cabinet decision on making the Railways Department as a closed Department and until they receive a  favourable decision from the Treasury.   

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Janaka Fernando of the  Railway Station Masters’ Union said, the Unions had not been informed officially about the cabinet decision.   
“Transport State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe told us only about  making the Department  a Closed Department but nothing about solutions regarding the salary 
anomalies,” he said.   

“The Treasury was the department  responsible for holding the decisions regarding the salary anomalies, therefore, we decided to continue the strike until we get our solutions,” 
Mr. Fernando said.  

• The Treasury was the department  responsible for holding the decisions  regarding the salary anomalies, therefore, we decided to continue the  strike until we get our solutions
• Transport State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe told us only about  making the Department  a Closed Department but nothing about solutions regarding the salary anomalies