(UTv|COLOMBO) – The strike action launched by railway engine drivers, controllers, station masters and other railway employees as of midnight on Wednesday enters day three today.
The public has been severely inconvenienced as a result of the strike. The Railway Control room said a limited number of trains will be in operation today.
Railway trade unions claim they will continue the indefinite strike action until their demands are met regardless of various threats posed by the government.
The Chairman of the Railway Controllers Union Lal Vithanage speaking to a prominent online news portal said the statement by the government that salary anomalies will be eliminated by January 2020 cannot be accepted.
Vithanage challenged any member of the government to an open debate over the matter.
He stressed regardless of whether Sri Lanka Railways will be made an essential service or not, all union members were on the stance that the strike action will continue.
Vithanage stated the trade unions was being accused of wasting Ministers time.
Commenting on the statement issued by the Finance Minister and the State Minister of Transport that the strike was being launched at a time that salaries had been increased, said the claim was unjustified.
Vithanage said the unions will call off the strike and accept any punishment if it is proven that salaries will be increased as promised in the Finance Ministry statement as of January 2020.
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