Railways declared as essential public service

President Maithripala Sirisena signed the special gazette notification declaring the railway service as an essential public S=service under the Act, No. 61 of 1979 this evening, the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry said. 

The Gazette notification said the services of any description whatsoever necessary or required to be handled by the Department of Railways including the transport services by rail and railway lines, their maintenance and provision of proper security measures, signalling systems and their operation, issuance of tickets that are essential for the efficient and uninterrupted operation of the aforesaid services. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)