Cannot continue, will ask Cabinet to take any decision: Bandula

Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said he is hoping to take stern action against those involved through a Cabinet meeting for causing public inconvenience by launching a train strikes.

Addressing the media, he said he had informed the Railways Department not to cause any inconvenience to the public by launching instant strikes.

"If any union or responsible authority wants to launch a strike for demands, they should discuss that with the Railways General Manager (GMR). If not, the issue can be taken to the ministry secretary, and as the final step, to the subject Minister, the Minister said. 

"I can interfere with the issues and grant solutions after discussion with the Cabinet ministers," he said.

"There might be some kind of political background operating behind this sudden strike. We need to find that out first. People always request that the railway department be privatized. But I told them to give it some time to solve the issues. If the Railways Department is trying to inconvenience the public, then I will take a stern decision after discussing with the Cabinet," Minister Gunawardana said.

The Railways Department incurs more than Rs. 10 billion in losses annually. In 2021, only Rs. 2.6 billion in profit was received. Overtime payments of Rs. 2.3 million were made during the year. More than Rs. 7 billion was paid for salaries.

I will raise this in today's Cabinet meeting and say that I cannot continue with this and request the Cabinet to take any firm decision," the Minister said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)