24-hour train strike continues

Colombo (News 1st): Train commuters are facing hardships once again as Railway Trade Unions commenced their weekly trade union action at midnight yesterday (June 27). News 1st correspondents said that trains were not operating across many major train stations across the island. Thus they report, commuters who travel by train to their respective places of work have been severely inconvenienced. Several night mail trains have also suspended operations. Railway Trade Unions say that they will stage a 24 hours strike from 12 midnight every Thursday until their demands are met. Their demands are primarily over the failure to implement the cabinet paper that was approved to rectify the salary anomalies of railway employees. Trade unions representing the Railway drivers, Regulators, Operators, Station masters, and Railway oversight managers joined the strike. Railway Operators' Union Chairman Lal Ariyaratne said they were given false promises from the year 2015 and a cabinet paper that was approved has still not been implemented. He said they will continue the weekly trade union action until the government resolves the matter.