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Railways GM says five-month advance notice given of looming staff shortage

Railways GM says five-month advance notice given of looming staff shortage

05 Jan 2023 | By Buddhika Samaraweera

  • Responds to allegation by UNP Gen. Secy Range Bandara of playing mum over impending staffing crisis
  • Dept. recruiting under contract basis and internally


In the wake of United National Party (UNP) General Secretary, Palitha Range Bandara stating that the Railways Department authorities should have informed the relevant institutions regarding the problems that may arise with the retirement of a large number of employees on 31 December 2022, the department stated that it had informed all relevant authorities in that regard for about five months.

Speaking to The Morning, Railways Department General Manager (GM), W.A.D. Gunasinghe said that the Department had been informing the authorities about the situation that may possibly arise in the department due to the general shortage of employees, as well as the New Government policy regarding the retirement age of public servants, for about five months.

“It has been five months since I became the General Manager. We have been pointing out for five months that this situation would arise. The authorities were informed about both the general shortage of employees in the department and the possible situation that would arise with a large number of people retiring at the same time. Continued requests have been made in this regard from all the relevant parties.”

When queried regarding the measures that have been taken to resolve the problematic situation as of now, Gunasinghe said: “We have been instructed to recruit some employees on a contract basis, and some employees have been recruited accordingly. In addition, some others are to be recruited internally.“

With the retirement of about 500 employees of the Railways Department on 31 December 2022, more than 100 passenger and freight trains had been cancelled from 31 December 2022.

Commenting on the situation, Range Bandara had told the media that the relevant officials of the Railways Department should have informed the subject Minister and the other authorities in advance that a problematic situation would arise with the retirement of a large number of employees.


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