Railway trade unions have launched a 48-hour strike, effective from midnight yesterday (16), based on several demands including the removal of the current General Manager of Railways.

Commenting on the ongoing trade union action, Chairman of the Railway Station Masters’ Union Sumedha Somarathna said several trains had been cancelled yesterday even before the strike began, causing inconvenience to passengers.

He claimed that such issues were among the reasons for the unions’ demand to remove the current General Manager of Railways.

Somarathna further alleged that the General Manager and executive officers were currently attempting to operate trains, while no proper programme had been prepared to increase railway revenue or provide the facilities required by passengers.

He said that the majority of railway station masters had joined the strike, while several station masters who are supportive of the Government were attempting to disrupt the strike and take steps to retain the current General Manager.

He stressed that the trade union action was not politically motivated, but was aimed at restoring the railway department.

Several train services had also been cancelled yesterday afternoon, prior to the commencement of the strike.

As a result, passengers who arrived at the Fort Railway Station were inconvenienced, with several of them expressing their views regarding the situation.