The railway strike launched by 12 trade unions of the Department of Railways will continue as discussions with government officials have yielded little to no results. 

Secretary of the Locomotive Engineering Operators’ Union Indika Dodangoda stated that the trade unions will continue their strike action as the demands made to rectify the salary anomalies within the Railway Department was not met along with several others. 

He however stated that the issues related to the hiring of assistants for the department was resolved following discussions at the Presidential Secretariat. 

All night mail trains have been cancelled yesterday (7) due to the strike action launched by the Railway Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union, the Railway Control Room said.

The union decided to continue with the trade union action, launched at midnight on December 6, as talks held yesterday (7) with the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, had failed. 

Meanwhile the Ministry of Transport had said that train season tickets have been made valid for travel in Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses due to the ongoing strike. 

Extensive talks were held at the ministry auditorium at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha with the participation of the minister, the Secretary of the Transport Ministry G.S. Withanage, Railway General Manager S. Mahanama Abeywickrama and representatives of the Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union, to address their grievances.

Issuing a statement following the discussion, the Ministry of the Transport said that Mr Withanage stated that a decision has been given after a case was filed with the Supreme Court over the Railway Engine Driver Assistant exam issue, which is the main reason for the strike.  

He pointed out that a public servant cannot change a decision given by a court and assured that he would dedicate himself to somehow bring about an acceptable solution the problem.

The Secretary also requested the trade union to withdraw from the strike, considering the fact that it will affect the students who are preparing to sit for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination and other commuters.  

The strike, which was launched from midnight on December 6, had resulted in the cancellation of several long-distance trains this morning.