Railway trade union strike continues

Colombo (News 1st): The railways department notes that they were able to operate 9 train turns this morning, despite the ongoing trade union action by railway employees. Railway General Manager Dilantha Fernando said normally close to 70 trains operate on weekday mornings. He said that under the prevailing conditions, at least one train was operating on the main railway line, the coastal, the upcountry, the Chilaw, the Northern and the Kelani Valley railway lines. The train drivers, train guards, train controllers, station masters and railway supervisors commenced a strike from midnight yesterday (June 20). The decision was taken as discussions with the Finance Minister regarding the failure to implement the cabinet paper to remove existing salary anomalies of railway employees proved futile.