INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Department of Railways has urged the 84 railway engine drivers who are on strike to report for duty immediately.Meanwhile, 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 locomotive operating engineers have been on strike
since midnight on Monday (Sept
11) over several key demands including the amendments to the recruitment process and promotions.Commuters were afflicted yesterday as more
than 100 train journeys were cancelled after locomotive operating engineers withdrew from duties.The trains that were up and running
yesterday were crammed with passengers and desperate commuters also resorted to train surfing due to overcrowding
Many others were left stranded at railway stations.Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a gazette notification last evening (12)
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 Service Act.Moreover, the Deputy General Manager of
Indipolage stated that around 37 short-distance trains had to be cancelled this morning alone, owing to the ongoing strike of the Sri Lanka
security to 32 railway stations across the country, at the request of the General Manager of Railways, for the safety of railway staff, who
