20 trains operated, 45 cancelled: GMR

Trains seen parked at the Badulla Railway Station. (Right)  The deserted Anuradhapura Station. Pix by Palitha Ariyaswansa and  Dayaratne Embogama  

• TUs  say indefinite strike if govt. fails to respond
• will report to work on saturday night

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

Despite the ongoing strike by railway trade unions, nearly 20 trains including nine office trains and the Jaffna-Colombo train (Yal Devi) were operated last morning bringing the office crowd to Colombo, Railways General Manager (GMR) Dilantha Fernando said.   

He said 45 trains services were cancelled while the train services covered the coastal line and the upcountry.   

Mr. Fernando said a shunting service would operate between Panadura and Weyangoda railway stations while the Jaffna-Colombo intercity train left for Jaffna From Colombo Fort.   
He said all the trains arriving at the Colombo Fort will leave to their respective destinations in the evening to facilitate the return of the office crowd.   

“The ticket counters at the Fort Railway station have been closed and no one has been permitted to enter the platforms except police and army personnel,” Mr. Fernando said.   
However, the unions said they would not hesitate to launch an indefinite work stoppage if the government attempted to apply pressure and told a media conference that they would continue their strike till Saturday night and would report to duty from Saturday midnight.   

The 48-hour railway strike was launched on Thursday night as the discussions between Railway Operations Supervisory Union (ROSU) and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera failed.   

He said 45 trains were cancelled while the train services covered the coastal line and the upcountry.   

Mr. Fernando said a shunting service would operate between Panadura and Weyangoda railway stations while the Jaffna-Colombo intercity train left for Jaffna From Colombo Fort.   
He said all the trains arriving at the Colombo Fort will leave to their respective destinations in the evening to facilitate the return of the office crowd.   “The ticket counters at the Fort Railway station have been closed and no one has been permitted to enter the platforms except police and army personnel,” Mr. Fernando said.   

However, the unions said they would not hesitate to launch an indefinite work stoppage if the government attempted to apply pressure and told a media conference that they would continue their strike till Saturday night and would report to duty from Saturday midnight.   

The 48-hour railway strike was launched on Thursday night as the discussions between Railway Operations Supervisory Union (ROSU) and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera failed.