Postal trains service, previous reservations canceled without prior notice

Although the railway authorities had assured the Transport Minister they will run the trains according to the normal schedule, several trains, including long distance trains were cancelled with immediate effect, the Railways Station Masters' Union (RSMU) said.

They said that the railway authorities had agreed to operate usual train service from Jan. 2 and also fixed the dates for the postal and intercity express trains, unfortunately those trains however were cancelled.

As a result, a large number of long distance-bound commuters had to face inconveniences. 

Accordingly, the Badulla-Colombo night mail train, the Colombo-Hatton express train, and the Colombo-Kankesanthurai express train had been canceled today.

Also, it was the failure of the administration to run the parcel service trains properly.

The handling of the National Lotteries Board lottery tickets as well as the flower transportation had been handed over to the private sector.

Due to the lack of response from the authorities, and after bringing the issue to the attention of the State Minister, the station masters were contemplating for another trade union action in the next few days, the RSMU said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)