• Dept. reads riot act to 84 drivers, Army deployed to several railways stations, Rs. 500,000 compensation for dead youth’s family

In the wake of 13 scheduled trains being cancelled yesterday (13) due to the ongoing strike action launched by the Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union, the Railways Department blamed the trade unions for striking despite having had discussions regarding the matter.

The locomotive operating engineers have been on strike since midnight of Monday (11) over several key demands including the amendments to the recruitment process and promotions, which they say have been delayed for nearly five years. Commuters were affected on Tuesday (12) as more than 100 train journeys were cancelled after locomotive operating engineers withdrew from duties, leading to several tense situations at some railway stations as commuters were gravely affected.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (13), the Railways General Manager W.A.D. Gunasinghe said that this strike is not reasonable at all since the issues that led to the demands of the trade unions have been existing for nearly a decade. He also said that even though the Department had asked them to come for a discussion a week ago, they had refused it.

He said that certain administrative decisions taken by several previous governments have contributed to these issues, adding however that these trade unions are exploiting those issues for their political and personal purposes. He also said that the Department is operated in a different manner in comparison with the other public institutions, and that therefore, governments must be  attentive when making policy decisions in this regard. He stated that trade unions still have an opportunity to come for discussions without causing inconvenience to the public.

However, according to the Railways (Traffic) Deputy General Manager M.J. Indipolage, at least 50 trains including Colombo bound night mail trains were in operation to provide services to commuters yesterday morning despite the ongoing trade union action. Indipolage said that the authorities are hopeful that the locomotive operating engineers would call off their strike. “We are not sure how long they plan to continue the strike. But, we hope that they will call it off and return to duties.”

The Department has urged the 84 railway engine drivers who are on strike to report to duty immediately. The Department has also notified these engine drivers that in the event of their failure to report for duty, they will be considered to have vacated their posts, adding that the relevant letters would be sent out in due course.

The trains that were up and running yesterday were crammed with passengers and many commuters also resorted to train surfing due to overcrowding. Many others were left stranded at railway stations.

A tense situation was reported at the Maradana Railway Station on Tuesday (12) as commuters were left infuriated by the railway strike after a youth fell to death from the roof of an overcrowded train near the Station. An 18-year-old youth fell to his death on Tuesday morning, while travelling on the roof of a train crammed with passengers, plying from Kandy to Colombo. The youth had fallen off the train roof after knocking against the top of the Horape Railway Station, and had reportedly died on the spot. Later on Tuesday evening, another individual travelling on a crowded train running from Colombo to Rambukkana was also reportedly injured, after falling from the compartment at Bulugahagoda. He was subsequently rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention. With infuriated passengers reaching their boiling point after the tragic incident, tense situations were reported at multiple railway stations. As a result, at the request of station masters and locomotive operating engineers on duty amidst the strike, the Department took steps to deploy Army personnel to provide security to multiple railway stations including the Maradana and Colombo Fort Stations yesterday morning. The Department added that it stands ready to deploy security forces to other railway stations as well if the need arises.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a gazette notification on Tuesday declaring the public transport services for passengers or goods and the provision and maintenance of facilities for transport services by railway lines as essential services with immediate effect under the Essential Public Services Act.

Transport Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, slammed the strike action, and said that the Government would not negotiate with “railway terrorists”. He said that the locomotive operating engineers are responsible for the death of the youth who fell from an overcrowded train.

A sum of Rs. 500,000 will be given to the family of the youth who died after falling from the roof of a train on Tuesday, as per a decision made by the Department.