Loco drivers off to vote; triggers cancellation of many trains

By Mahinda Nissanka   

With locomotive operators leaving to cast their votes resulted in several trains including Mail Trains being cancelled on 16 and 17, stated the Secretary General of the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union Indika Dodangoda yesterday.   

He said further that owing to the spate of strikes and trade union actions in the railway sector recently, the train drivers had been deprived of their chances to apply for postal voting and this has resulted in casting their votes on the Election Day.   

Dodangoda also said that the drivers’ dilemma was brought to the notice of the National Elections Commission Chairman, but it was regretful to note that the railway authorities did not intervene in this matter. The train drivers had kept the union informed about their position and leaving to cast their votes after obtaining duty leave.   
It was also revealed that the authorities had not provided any facilities for the train drivers to proceed to cast their votes.